Read Matthew 5:43-48

“⁴³ You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

When Jesus calls us to be “perfect” it can feel like an impossible dream. How could someone who knows “everything” not see what is clear to all of us – no one has ever come close to being “perfect”?

However, the key point is not that God is calling us to a new rules-based religion but to a new family. Jesus calling us sons reminds us that we are God’s much-loved children adopted into His family. Metaphorically, we are carrying our heavenly father’s DNA.

If you’ve ever watched a child pretend to “cook” pizza on a plastic stove or “mowing” the lawn with a tiny, plastic mower, you’ll notice their attempts to be like their parents are clumsy and comical. Yet we encourage them rather than mock them. Why? Because each of these activities gives the child a chance to live out their design and desire to grow up to be like their parent(s).

This is the life I believe Jesus is calling each of us to. He’s reminding us how our heavenly dad loves others – without discrimination or limit – and that as His children it is our God-given design and desire to learn to live and love just like Him.

The word “perfect” here is not used to mean moral flawlessness but spiritual maturity. In other words, it’s an invitation and encouragement to grow up to live and love just like your heavenly dad.

So remember, your dad designed you to be like Him. While your feeble attempts to live like your dad may look comical to everyone watching, God smiles as he watches you. He believes you can fulfil your God-given design to live and love as he does.

So, cast aside every doubt and all shame and learn to love as our heavenly dad does.