Christian Perfection

I was reading my devotional My Utmost for His Highest (Special Edition) and this was the title of the day's devotion. As usual Chambers cuts straight to the heart with this subject. The first sentence says "It is a snare to imagine that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do; God's purpose is to make us one with Himself. " He goes on to say "Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship to God which shows itself amid the irrelevancies of human life." While reading this I was struck with the thought that I've been trying to be perfect. I've been feeling like a failure because I'm trying to be that Perfect Christian. The problem has been that I've been looking at what others say makes a perfect Christian. Instead of doing what I know to do I've been letting other people's opinions dictate how I go about strengthening my relationship with Jesus. I've put too much pressure on myself and that's not a new problem for me. I put too much pressure on myself and others all the time. Chamber's says "I am called to live in perfect relation to God so that my life produces a longing after God in others lives, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God is not after perfecting me to be a specimen in His showroom; He is getting me to the place where He can use me."

I need to remember to focus on my RELATIONSHIP with Jesus. I've been focusing on doing instead of relating. I'm going to let Him do what He likes so that He can use me.