The Details Matter
"Good enough for government work" is something I've heard while working in and outside the government. I'm a veteran of the United States Air Force and I served my country as a Dental Assistant. This was not the work I wanted to do, however it is what the Air Force needed to maintain readiness.
I was not enthused or interested in learning about oral hygiene or how to assist dentists in providing dental procedures on patients. That said, I was trained thoroughly on each minute detail of how I was to do my job so that we consistently provided what was needed to accomplish the mission. That is ensuring that all my patients received complete care and were ready to do their work that they are called to do.
You may not have been a dental assistant, but hopefully you have had the pleasure of being treated by a dentist at some point of your life. Have you ever stopped to think about all the details that go into preparing the operatory room, the sterilization of the dental instruments, the protective gear like mask, gloves and eye protection, the diagnosis of your dental health and the treatment of the patient. What could go wrong if these details were not executed perfectly?
Not being perfect in these details will result in the patient having minor to major complications - even to the point of death. Now, with that in mind, how important is it that you pay attention to the details? Is it accurate to say that by not executing a detailed plan that your results will not be perfect as intended?
The truth is that none of us are perfect and follow through on all the details in our lives. We are aware of them but rarely do them all. We accept that our efforts are "good enough" or "close". Take time today and think through the most important details of your life. Understand that you need The Holy Spirit to help you and transform you so that you can be perfect as He is perfect.
GOD IS PERFECT
There is nothing in God that has a flaw. There is nothing that comes from God that is not complete. God is perfect.
This is a very difficult truth for humans to understand when we compare ourselves to God. It is impossible for us to reach perfection based on our own efforts. God is perfect without effort because in His person He is eternally perfect.
All God's desires, thoughts, words and actions are perfect. Only God can transform His perfect creation that has been marred by sin back to its originally intended perfect state. Hallelujah! God is perfect and He will always be.
Matthew 5:48 NIV
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
James 1:16-18 NIV
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.
Hebrews 10:14-18 NIV
because by One sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then He adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
