What Jesus Did! 'Perfect!' — Matthew 5:46-48

Thursday, March 6, 2025

[Jesus continued:] "If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."
— Matthew 5:46-48 NLT

Key Thought

I am called to be perfect like my Father in heaven! Jesus emphasizes that this is especially important in my relationship with others. My goal is the faithful lovingkindness, righteous character, and graciously compassion of God. WOW! What a challenging call. But the transformational nature of Jesus' love and his standard for the Kingdom-family lifestyle demand that we surpass conventional standards of righteousness and pursue the heart and character of God himself. Anybody can be nice to someone who is nice to him or her. But what about those folks God places in our lives as that grain of sand out of which we are to fashion our pearl? You know, those irritating, dependent, demanding, and critical people that God uses to fashion us into more Christ-like children or to confront us with our own selfishness. In the Kingdom family, we're to rise above the mediocre standards of the masses and find the redemptive standard set by our Father!

Today's Prayer

Majestic, righteous, and holy God, I bow in worship and adoration at your kindness, mercy, and grace demonstrated to me in so many different ways. Work your righteous and character-altering influence in me, and as I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, please make my character more reflective of yours. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

5 Related Resources by Heartlight

Hardly a Hero
Article by Rubel Shelly
Come on, we can hold up someone better than this as a hero! Rubel Shelly takes a high profile piece in the news and reminds all who the real heroes are among us.
What if We Did What Jesus Said?
Article by Tom Norvell
Can you imagine what would happen if we really obeyed Jesus? Jesus commanded us to act in certain ways toward others, especially when people mistreat us; what would happen if we really did obey him?
He Paid My Debt!
Article by Phillip Morrison
As children of our Father, we are called to live up to the God standard! Phillip Morrison reminds us that we are saved by grace and God expects us to be gracious.
Righting Our Upside Down World
Virtual Worship by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware
God's high standards are certainly upside down to how we often feel and how the world usually functions. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to open our hearts to the power of the Holy Spirit to love our neighbor and not bear grudges and seek revenge.
See All 5 Related Resources about Matthew 5:46-48

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 5:46-48 NLT — "If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that?"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, March 6, 2025

Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'The Only Way to God' (Jn. 14:6-7)
"Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me. If you have known me, you will also know my....."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Author Unknown:
"To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Job 40:4
"One cheering word, poor lost sinner, for thee! You think you must not come to God because you are vile. Now, there is not a saint living on earth but...."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Ephesians 3:17-19
"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and high and deep is the love of Christ,...."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!