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Week 13: Mar 26th – Apr 1st (Perfection through Suffering)

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Perfection through Suffering

Week 13: Mar 26th – Apr 1st

Bible passage to read: Ephesians 1:5-6


 

 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

To have a deeper insight of the attainment of perfection through suffering, there is a need to understand the terms ‘perfect’ and ‘suffer’ in its full context. Perfection is a state of completeness, without flaws or faults, whilst suffering means deprivation – to be without something, pain or unpleasantness.

 

It is well known that for knowledge to be imparted brain cells need to be receptive for a course/period of time and as the great scientist stated, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”. You are taking time to read this and as your mind receives daily, you begin to gain knowledge in the bible.

 

You have sacrificed time in doing this, in seeking God through his words. Romans 3:10 says: As it is written, “There is none righteous, no, not one” but perfection in the eyes of God can be attained through suffering. Suffering in the context of today’s devotion is to deny oneself of amenities that could make us feel rather comfortable or at ease. Praying and fasting is an exercise that causes our innermost spirit to be sober and focused as evident in the days of Queen Esther (Esther 4:16) – who was in a position to help her people from being exterminated by the hand of the Chief Judge, Amman and with the aid of fasting and praying, tables were turned around in favour of God’s children.

As a child of God, redeemed by the blood of the Jesus Christ, depriving ourselves the comfort of sleep to pray and fellowship with the father in the early hours of the day is another way to strive for perfection. On the other hand, the father himself can inflict pain and suffering on us with an aim to turn us into the desired tool for works.

 

Like a master puppeteer, he caused Jacob to be the younger twin and yet he prophesied that the older would serve the younger even when they were still blood cells! (Genesis 25:23) He later caused Jacob, with all his overflowing blessing, served for years in a foreign land. 99-year-old Abraham was told something about the need to be perfect in Genesis 17:1 – “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” Being perfect is not meant just for a day, a week or a year.

 

Perfection means the ability to reach the top of the mountain, which is flawlessness and completeness by undergoing rough situation and circumstances that test our perfection in the future. What situation do you find yourself today? God will not allow you to go through it if it is not in his will. The bible says: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)

 


Devotional Prayer Points

  • Oh Lord give me the grace to carry my cross in Jesus name
  • Father, help me to be dependent on you for all my life in Jesus name
  • Father, give me the grace to cope with the persecution of my faith without complaining in Jesus name
  • My journey on earth will not be in vain
  • Some Israelites suffered and yet died in the wilderness, I shall not die in the wilderness of this world in Jesus name

Author: Evangelist Daniel Daramola

Author: CCC Handbook Weekly Devotional
CCC Seventh Year Parish 2
UK

Source:Celestial Handbook
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