Our Daily Bread Today 29 January 2022 | ODB Devotional Message By Monica La RoseĀ (Our Daily Bread Ministries)
Our Daily Bread ODB 29 January 2022 Devotional Message
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TOPIC:Ā Perfect Like Christ
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:Ā Matthew 19:16ā26
KEY VERSE: Be perfect . . . as your heavenly Father is perfect. – Matthew 5:48
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exodus 21ā22; Matthew 19
INSIGHT:Ā Luke 18:18Ā identifies the rich young man inĀ Matthew 19:16ā30Ā as a āruler,ā which can mean a synagogue leader, a Jewish elder, a leader of the Pharisees, or a member of the Sanhedrin. He asked Jesus what he needed to do to enter the Messianic kingdom (v. 16). On another occasion, āan expert in the lawā asked Jesus the same question to test Him (Luke 10:25). InĀ Matthew 19:24, Jesus used the ludicrous illustration of the camel going through the eye of a needle to highlight the impossibility of anyone being able to ādo somethingā to save themselves, for itās God alone who saves (v. 26).
Our Daily Bread Today 29 January 2022 MESSAGE
āPerfectionismĀ is one of the scariest words I know,ā Kathleen Norris writes, thoughtfully contrasting modern-day perfectionism with the āperfectionā described in the book of Matthew. Modern-day perfectionism she describes as āa serious psychological affliction that makes people too timid to take necessary risks.ā But the word translated āperfectā in Matthew actually means mature, complete, or whole. Norris concludes, āTo be perfect . . . is toĀ make room for growthĀ [and become] mature enough to give ourselves to others.ā
Understanding perfection this way helps make sense of the profound story told inĀ Matthew 19, where a man asked Jesus what good he could doĀ to āget eternal lifeāĀ (v. 16). Jesus responded, āKeep the commandmentsā (v. 17). The man thought heād obeyed all of them, yet he knew something was missing. āWhat do I still lack?ā (v. 20) he asked.
Thatās when Jesus identified the manās wealth as the vise-grip stifling his heart. He said that if he wanted āto be perfectāāwhole, willing to give and receive from others in Godās kingdomāthen he must be willing to let go of what was closing off his heart from others (v. 21).
Each of us has our own version of perfectionāpossessions or habits we cling to as a futile attempt to be in control. Today, hear Jesusā gentle invitation to surrenderāand find freedom in the wholeness thatās only possible in Him (v. 26).
Our Daily Bread Today 29 January 2022 | ODB Devotional
REFLECT: When have you mistaken personal goals for biblical āperfectionā? How can surrendering control to God offer freedom from perfectionism?
PRAY: Loving God, forgive me for so often mistaking my own self-improvement ambitions for growing in You! Help me to surrender control and embrace a life of freedom with You.
Our Daily Bread Today 29 January 2022 | ODB Devotional Message. Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread