The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands (Psalm 138:8). The word “perfect” used in that verse means to complete or to finish. The Lord will finish that which concerns me. The Lord prayed for us, “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23). Again the word “perfect” means to complete or finish. “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one” (John 17:22). “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4).

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9). Our perfection is the Lord Jesus Christ resting upon us. The sacrifice of Jesus made it possible for us to be in Christ, and for Christ to be in us – His work finishes the work of creation in us and makes us complete. God’s grace makes us whole (complete). Our perfection is in believing in the Son of God sent for our salvation.

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). Jesus proclaimed that His food or meat (what sustains Him) is to do the will (pleasure, desire) of God, and to finish His work. And Jesus did finish the work on the cross. The blood of Jesus perfects us, and was made perfect (finished) on the cross He bore for us. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment (1 John 3:23). The task God has given us to finish (perfect) is to believe on the name of Jesus and love one another.

What perfects us is our faith in the work of the cross and to have love towards one another. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Our faith in the work of the cross is identified by our love for one another. By our love they will know we are followers of Jesus Christ – that we believe in the name of the Son of God. Paul instructed us to, “above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:14). That word “bond” means a uniting principle (belief). Put on love which is the uniting belief of perfection.

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands (Psalm 138:8). David prophesied and said, “The Lord will perfect.” Jesus fulfilled the prophecy on the cross. It is not our works in the flesh that perfects us. We are perfected in the body of Christ by His indwelling; it is Christ in us and us in Him that perfects. It is the Lord Who perfects that which concerns us. How? Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever. It is God’s mercy and grace that has perfected us.

© 2010, Tim D. Coulter Sr.