You Asked For It: Just Be Perfect

June 29, 2025

Pastor Cleve Masten presented today's message, "You Asked For It: Just Be Perfect." A video of today's message is here on YouTube. This series started with folks being asked to submit scriptures that they would like explained/explored. So, it's quite literally: "You asked for it!"

Today's scripture is Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Lots of other passages were thrown in to the explanation.

Pastor Cleve noted the Greek word for perfect in this verse is TEH-lei-os (τέλειος). He also mentioned that telios was the root for our word telescope. I'll add to Cleve's description that the pirates' telescope is even more aptly named to coincide with the actual telescoping of the instrument as it unfolds in sections to full length. Visualizing that extension of the telescope sections to full length relates well to the word's meaning of "reaching to the end" or "becoming complete." It's a work in progress. For the pirate extending his telescope, it only takes a second or two. For us, extending our relationship with Christ, i.e. "becoming perfect," will take much longer.

It crossed my mind that this notion of getting to completeness is very similar to the Old Testament word shalom (שָׁלוֹם). This word, too, contains far more meaning than simply peace, including perfect, complete, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, fullness, rest, harmony, secure, satisfied, safe, sound, healthy, calm, and made ready.

This week in particular, the phrase "in order to form a more perfect union" should come to mind. Founded on Judeo-Christian values, we certainly got off on the right foot. The path hasn't been perfect, we are humans after all. But if we stay committed to the effort, or as Pastor Cleve might say, "stay in relationship with the people and work on becoming perfect," we can move the needle in the right direction.

One of the many passages mentioned was Philippians 1:6, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Confidence in faith is a key ingredient to becoming perfect in Christ. On a rung or two down from that level, I have to think being patriotic regarding one's country is a form of confidence in that country, all the while understanding that man is imperfect and so are his works.

In commenting on Hebrews 5:14, Pastor Cleve mentioned, "don't look back, pursue Christ into the future" (paraphrased). I asked myself where in the Old Testament "looking back" plays a role and thought immediately of Lot and his wife escaping Sodom and Gomorrah. They are told explicitly not to look back. Lot obeys; his wife does not. See Genesis 19:17 and 19:26. People often have difficulty fleeing bad situations, whether from external forces like extreme weather or personal situations like an abusive marriage. Commentators discuss several reasons why Lot's wife may have looked back. None, as it turned out, were worth it. As Prager puts it, "In life, one either progresses or regresses: that which doesn't grow contracts" (The Rational Bible: Genesis, p. 231). Interestingly, there's a similar story in Greek mythology, the story of Baucis and Philemon, or Orpheus and Eurydice. See: Don’t Look Back in Anger: Orpheus and Eurydice.

It's interesting that Jesus refers to Lot's wife in Luke 17:31-36. It's about letting go of the past and focusing on the future in Christ.

"Don't look back" is very similar to "take a different route." Probably the story most remembered in regard to the latter is of the wise men (neither Christian nor Jew) being told to return to their country by a different route. This, too, is about change in your life. Don't "go back" to or through old habits and behaviors, rather, develop new ones in relationship with Christ.

Isaiah 43:18-19, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

Bonus

4th of July Seder


2022 4th of July Seder. If you're curious about the flag on the left, see Jamie's Flags.

Just as the Israelites remembered the Exodus via a ritual known today as the Passover Seder, we as Americans should ritualize our remembrance of what makes this country so great. To that end, why not have a 4th of July Seder (I got the idea from Prager)! Here are some documents that can help you easily put together such a Seder so you and your family can spend 10-20 minutes actually remembering the true meaning of this holiday. We did this at our Family Dinner on June 29, 2025, so that by the time celebrations of the 4th came later this week, the kids would know the fundamentals. Interestingly, I was glad to see that they already knew a few things!

The Case for a 4th of July Seder by Alan Burdick and Eliza Byard.

Lyrics to "God Bless America" (can be printed and cut so everyone gets a copy).

Signable Declaration of Independence (everyone signs at the end).

4th of July Seder by PragerU (the program).

Reader's Questions (for the PragerU program to be given to the readers).

If you'd like all the pieces in book form plus another 80-ish pages of Founding Documents, Biographies, Colonies, and more Fun Family Activities then check out this PragerU book: The Indepedence Day Ceremony (cover image shown).

Bonus2

Rooted to Flourish

The following is pulled from a weekly devotional email from CBN Israel (to which I subscribe). You can subscribe for free as well.

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:1-2 NKJV).

You've probably heard the phrases, "You are what you think," and, "Choose your company wisely." Psalm 1 echoes both sentiments. It tells us that the person who experiences God's blessing is the one who avoids destructive influences and instead finds joy in God's Word—meditating on it continually.

Who we surround ourselves with shapes our thinking, our actions, and ultimately our character. The psalmist warns us to stay alert and discerning, steering clear of voices that lead us away from truth. Instead, we're called to intentionally delight in God's instruction and let it shape our hearts and lives.

The one who does this, the psalmist says, is like "a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither" (Ps. 1:3). In a dry, arid land, this image speaks of vitality, strength, and resilience. A life rooted in God's Word will flourish—even in harsh conditions. [TimberCreek's name comes from this verse.]

But it's not just about surviving—the tree bears fruit. It thrives. In Scripture, fruit is a common metaphor for the visible evidence of inward transformation. It represents character, choices, and actions that flow from a life deeply rooted in God.

When we immerse ourselves in His truth and allow it to reshape us, it doesn't stay hidden inside. It overflows—producing love, righteousness, peace, and wisdom that bless others and glorify God. True spiritual growth will always manifest in how we live, how we serve, and how we love.

The psalm brings this powerful image to a close with a promise: "Whatever he does shall prosper."

Spiritual growth doesn't happen by accident. It requires vigilance, intention, and a steady delight in the Lord's ways. The question for each of us is: Are we bearing fruit, or are we more like the chaff blown away by the wind (Ps. 1:4)?

What do you delight in - and what does your life reflect?