Are you trying to be perfect? Are you seeking perfection? This is not about doing things with excellence, that’s something different. This is a case of receiving a performance-based narrative that says you’re worthless unless you’re perfect. It says your worth is found in how well you perform, how you look and live up to expectations. It’s a bold-faced lie. That’s not where your value is found. It’s found in a much higher place than performance; in fact, your ability to perform is the result of who you are. If you mix these up, you’ll ever feel insufficient and worthless. This is one reason so many find themselves in that state. Perfection is unattainable. Even those who place expectations on others, cannot live up to them. What are New Year’s resolutions about? Forgetting all the imperfections of the past, and starting with a clean slate in hopes of living a perfect life. Let’s not kid ourselves, we’re not seeking to merely improve our lives. Deep down, we’re seeking perfection. How many resolutions end the moment there’s some sort of failure? Then there’s that other resolution: becoming a “better Christian.” There’s no such thing. More on that in a moment.
You are better than you think -you’re tremendous! You can’t become tremendous; you already are, so there’s no pressure to perform. In simplest terms, you’re created in the image of God (see Genesis 1:26-27). Psalms 139:14 I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. You are actually wonderful, and that’s because He is wonderful. Moreover, you’re a miracle. In mathematical terms, your odds of being born were one in 400 trillion! You are no accident. You are here by design. You’re here because God wants you here, and that means YOU ARE IMPORTANT! You’re not important because some human being says so. Conversely, you’re not irrelevant because a human says so, and that includes a parent or anyone else you hold in high esteem. That means your birthday is significant; it’s not just “another day.”
While it is true the image may have been marred as the result of sin; God remedied that through Jesus Christ. He not only forgave those who receive Jesus Christ; He made them entirely new (see 2 Corinthians 1:17). New as in prototype, not a remake. Not a “do-over,” a complete new beginning in which your past has no bearing on who are in Jesus Christ. We are complete in Him, and that is where we find perfection: in Him! Period! If you’re after a new beginning, it begins with Jesus Christ, not the New Year.
Without realizing it, those who have the aim to become a better Christian will gravitate toward works. It would be easy to slip away from grace in this mode of thinking, because being “better” is performance-based (see Galatians 3:1-29). It moves you away from what Jesus accomplished on the Cross, to trying to make some sort of addition, as if the Cross is not sufficient. Basic Christianity 101 says we’re saved by grace, and works are the result of our new nature (see Ephesians 2:8-10). Can you become more righteous by praying more, giving more, reading your Bible more, or even being more kind to people? If you could, why would you need Jesus? Your righteousness is strictly found in Him (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). It might help to stop comparing yourself to others. Their walk is their walk. The Bible tells us it is not wisdom to compare ourselves to each other (see 2 Corinthians 10:12). But, if you feel inclined to compare yourself with anyone, compare yourself with Jesus. He is The Standard. The praying more, and reading my Bible more thing is based on your efforts. The real issue may be a submission thing in terms of “doing more.” Let Holy Spirit lead you, and don’t worry about what anyone else says or does. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
