(by Pastor Jean)

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt 5:48; NKJV). When we think of the word “perfect” we think of someone with no faults but the Greek word used here is teleios and actually means, whole, complete, fully mature or brought to a successful conclusion. As new Christians no one would expect us to be fully mature but if we are true disciples of Jesus then we will be growing in maturity or becoming a little more “perfect” every day of our lives. It is a lifelong process. We were created in the image of God (Gen 1:26), therefore as we mature, we should become more and more like God. God is love; He is compassionate, merciful, kind forgiving, just and unchanging (to mention just a few of His attributes). If we are following Jesus as we should then these attributes will naturally begin to develop in us in the form of the fruit of the Spirit, just like fruit forms on a tree. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22,23; NKJV). All these components of the fruit of the Spirit could really be included in the word love. We have been created to develop this love and to share it with those around us, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35; NKJV). As the Holy Spirit works in our lives, we will never reach perfection but gradually become more and more like “teleios” people.