Tis the season when it is so easy to seek perfection.

The perfect tree,

perfect decorations,

perfect gifts

the perfect Christmas meal,

hosting a perfect Christmas celebration.

No glitches, no flaws, no missteps.

But the one whose birth we celebrate, the one perfect person who became a perfect sacrifice to perfect some very imperfect people, doesn’t seek this kind of perfection from us.

Now it is true Jesus gave this command:

“Be perfect like your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48)

And taken out of context, it seems like Jesus is requiring the impossible expectation to live a life without flaws, without error or mistakes. But in context this command takes on a different meaning. For you see, his command comes as a concluding statement about God’s perfect love for mankind – a generous and gracious love.

“For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.   If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.  But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matt. 5:43-48)

Jesus set before us a challenge to develop this kind of “perfect” love – to perfect the way we love one another, to perfect the way we treat others.   In the Message translation, His command encourages us,

“(To) Live out your God-created identity. (To) Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” (Matt. 5:48)

So this Christmas let’s alter our focus from trying to make things perfect and ask the One who is perfect to perfect His love in us – to help us demonstrate His “perfect” love by being patient when the Christmas meal goes awry, gracious when the gift we receive doesn’t measure up to our expectations, and forgiving when confronted with a thoughtless word or deed. Let us love not just when it is easy but even when it is hard. This season let us love generously and graciously as our heavenly Father loves us.