"Be ye perfect..."

So, this morning was slow, but good...I was helping Monica in the kitchen with some dishes as she was cooking and I was thinking, "I could just stop now..." And then, I was reminded of something a friend said once about his work around the house..."But, I'm not going to do anymore, I've done my part for the day." Maybe I overthink, as Jessica says I do all of the time, but regardless, this statement moved my mind.

How often do you say, "I'm through, I've already done my part."? Perphaps, this is a good season to evaluate this statement.

Jesus.

What if He had chosen when His time was up? What if He had decided He had done His part?

He didn't choose, the Father chose. But He certainly had his 'moments'. Before He began to shed tears of blood on the Mount of Olives he asked, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." There was pain for sure...but He never said, "I've had enough." Instead, He proclaimed that the Lord's will would be done in His life, regardless of His personal or momentary circumstances. Even with His last breath He announced the Lord's will, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" Christ, the most self-less man to ever walk the earth, never once uttered those arrogant words, "I've done my part." The truth, it's not even your part...and though you may be "satisfied" with what you've done, your not finished.

In Isaiah 53:10, the Bible says that "It was the will of the Lord to crush him." It wasn't until Jesus breathed His last that Abba could say, "I am pleased." Pleased Him...What? Well, be thankful, because it pleased the Lord for love of us! His GIFT! His SON! That he would crush His only begotten son... for YOU.

Love...remember that four-letter word this Friday, this season. You are Loved, by a God who doesn't want just some of you, He wants it all. It's not until you give it all that He will be satisfied. It's not until you give it all that He can fully love you. That He can look at you after having said, "Be ye perfect", and agree that you are...

Jesus says, "You have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not push Me away, understand that I am going to see this job through. Whatever suffering it may cost you in your earthly life, whatever inconceivable purification it may cost you after death, whatever it costs Me, I will never rest nor let you rest until you are literally perfect - until My Father can say without reservation that He is well pleased with you, as He said He was well pleased with Me. This I can do and will do. But I will not do anything less." -CSL

This is a brilliant time to rejoice in the love that your Father has for you. Thank you Abba, for never thinking of quiting on me...