And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation. Hebrews 5:9

Because Jesus was perfect and without sin, I oftentimes forget that He did not live a perfect life.

There was nothing perfect about His low income home, the betrayal of His family, the unfaithfulness of His friends, being sentenced to a disgraceful execution, and enduring excruciating pain as He was whipped and then nailed to a cross. His life was far from perfect.

Jesus, a perfect God, lived an imperfect life.

Thinking about Jesus’ victories, friendships, heartache, pain, and joy, along with all kinds of other emotions, I realize He, in so many ways, was like us.

I go through life thinking I’m not good enough because of all my mistakes, disappointments, faults, and my upbringing. I look at my life and all of the imperfections of it and feel that I’m not good enough to be loved by a holy and perfect God, when all along He has suffered, He has been wounded, and He was tempted. Jesus felt joy one moment and the very next moment He felt sorrow. The people Jesus was loyal to betrayed Him. Jesus died for the soldiers who whipped Him, the soldiers who spit in His face, and the soldiers who nailed Him to a cross. Jesus knows what it feels like to be wounded.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15.

Is your road lonely? Jesus has walked that road.
Are you hurting? Jesus has felt your pain.
Have you sinned? Jesus took your place and died for your sins.
Are you uncertain about your future? Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

We may not be perfect today, but we can be perfected by a holy, blameless God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for leaving your heavenly throne for me. Thank you for being a God who is touched by the feeling of my infirmity and thank you for walking the lonely road to Calvary to give me hope of eternal life. I pray that you will perfect me by creating in me a pure heart.

 

Author

Angela Overton is a lover of words, nature, and coffee. She is an ordained minister with the UPCI, has a Masters Degree in Theology, and loves to teach Bible studies. She and her amazing husband, Michael, pastor in Silver Spring, Maryland.

1 Comment

  1. Barbara Atchison

    😭So beautiful! Thank you for sharing! I needed that!