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Perfection, the Goal to Be Gained, September 24
Perfection of Character
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect.
Matthew 5:48
God will accept only those who are determined to aim high. He
places every human agent under obligation to do his best. Moral per-
fection is required of all. Never should we lower the standard of righ-
teousness in order to accommodate inherited and cultivated tendencies
to wrongdoing. We need to understand that imperfection of character
is sin. All righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a perfect,
harmonious whole, and every one who receives Christ as a personal
Saviour is privileged to possess these attributes.
And those who would be workers together with God must strive for
perfection of every organ of the body and quality of the mind. True
education is the preparation of the physical, mental, and moral powers
for the performance of every duty; it is the training of body, mind, and
soul for divine service. This is the education that will endure unto eternal
life....
But Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of
character is an easy matter. A noble, all-around character is not inherited.
It does not come to us by accident. A noble character is earned by
individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the
talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by
hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against
hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and
allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.
Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character.... The
real difficulty arises from the corruption of an unsanctified heart and an
unwillingness to submit to the control of God.
Subjection to the will of Christ means restoration to perfect manhood.
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