Today marks the final day of the first month in the Bible in 90 Days Reading Challenge. This has been a great experience thus far. I’ve had to push myself some days to read the Bible and other days I’ve flown right through the reading. I think I’ve learned a lot but I’ve also come up with a few questions that will need answered later.
Today’s reading covered 1 Chronicles 24 through 2 Chronicles 7.
One of my most pressing questions is the Biblical definition of “perfect.” Most Adventist churches I’ve visited have preached or taught that perfection means that we have to learn not to sin while still living on earth. When Christ comes, we must be perfect. This attitude has always scared me because I’m far from perfect. I sin on a daily basis, even though I try to act like Christ. The idea of me obtaining perfection before I die or before Christ returns (whichever happens first) is very discouraging.
I’ve only met several people who have tried to show that Biblical perfection is more about having a heart for God rather than a life without sin. This teaching makes more sense to me, but I want to know what the Bible teaches.
Several of the verses in today’s reading talk about a “perfect heart.”
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee: but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever
1 Chronicles 28:9
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy
1 Chronicles 29:9
I like the idea of a perfect heart. David prayed for a perfect heart when he asked that God “create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). I want a clean heart, a perfect heart, and a right spirit.
Lord, help me to be like You!