“You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48 The Amplified Bible)
Usually when I go to a store that has multiple entry ways, and notice someone standing outside one door with a clipboard in hand, attempting to get people to stop and answer questions, I go to the other door. However, on this certain day, I didn’t do my usual thing. No, I got out of my car, walked towards the entry way, avoiding direct eye contact with a young man with a clipboard. That did not matter to him. Standing there for a purpose, he politely said, “Sir, can I ask you one to three quick questions? I’m doing a research paper for one of my classes at a local Bible college.” How could I say “No.” Here are the questions he asked in the order that he posed them to me. (1) Are you a Christian?” (I said, “Yes.” If I had said, “No”, he would not have proceeded to ask the last two questions, but I quickly replied, “Yes.”) (2) How would you rate your lifestyle according to Biblical principles? Choose from the following: “Needs Improvement,” “Very Good,” “Not As Good As I Would Like.” (There was no option for “perfect,” probably because no one can say they had attained that level, if answering with integrity. I gave my answer, but I’ll keep it confidential. The question was very thought provoking and it stayed on my mind as I did my shopping once I was done with the interview.) (3) “How pleased are you with your rating?” (Again I had options: “Very Pleased,” “Somewhat Pleased,” “Not Pleased At All.” I’ll share my response on this one. I picked “Somewhat Pleased.” I was done with the interview and was ready to get on with my shopping. But before I could, he asked if he could share two quotes with me. I said, “sure.” It was something he got off the internet and the second was from the Bible.
The first quote said, “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high, and we miss it, but that it is too low, and we reach it.” The second quote was apparently to keep the interviewee from settling with mediocrity. It was from Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” After sharing the quotes with me in the proper tone, he dismissed me with a thank you and expresses sincerely that I have a blessed day.
Listen my friend, why don’t you take a shot at answering the questions above. Then ponder and reflect on your responses, as well as the interviewer’s quotes and our opening and closing verses. Be blessed!
“We must try to become mature and start thinking about more than just the basic things we were taught about Christ.” (Hebrews 6:1a Contemporary English Version)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King