For my daily devotion I read the passage in Matthew about Jesus admonishing his followers to “Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.”
How can that be? We can’t be perfect. That’s impossible.

Later that day I watched my son as he helped his daughter ride a bicycle. Brad held onto the bicycle handles and walked beside Annie as she wobbled along. When she toppled, he caught her. As he encouraged her she became more efficient until he was running along holding the bicycle seat to stabilize her. Finally Brad let go of the seat as Annie peddled along. When she fell, Brad was there to pick her up and comfort her.

We gradually learn about spiritual perfection because God loves us and holds us up as we topple, fall, and get back up to try again. That’s as close as I can come to understanding what Christ meant about being perfect. If we are going to live the life that Christ desires for us we must perfectly surrender our self-centered desires and let Christ hold us, guide us, and comfort us as we struggle along life’s path.