The Search for Perfection of Service

Greetings, brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series where we seek to

explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years, the heavenly

Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them with you. This

morning we seek understanding of the search for perfection of service.

And now, sit back and listen to today's message.

The Search for Perfection of Service

"I beseech you therefore, brethen, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living

sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. " Romans, Chapter 12,

Verse 1.

Brothers and sisters, the Father has commanded us to be perfect even as he is, and we shall now

extend this command as it applies to perfection of service. In the search for perfection of service, we

run into many seemingly paradoxes. How is it possible to achieve perfection of service in the

material state when there are so many material barriers that prevent the performance of the very

service? Since the spiritual drive has to be manifested through the material self as it seeks to serve

others, it becomes apparent that there are times when this is not possible. When sickness casts its

shadow over the material form, and the material form is unable to perform, then is the service

disrupted. When chronic physical conditions impair the ability to allow needs to be met, then is

service compromised. When the very environment prevents service from being rendered, then do

handicaps become apparent. So is it really possible to achieve perfection of service on this world,

with its constant disruptions and handicaps?

We know that in serving each other, we are indeed serving God. This is the practice of allowing the

spiritual Father to manifest himself through us in loving service to our brothers and sisters. But there

must be a model for us to follow in our attempts to do this. When Phillip asked Jesus to show him

the Father, Jesus replied, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me,

Phillip? He that has seen me hath seen the Father: and how sayest thou then show me the Father?

Believeth thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you,

I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doth the works. Believe me that I am

in the Father, and the Father is in me: Or else believe me for the very work's sake." Therefore we

must look to Jesus, the incarnated Son of God, to see first how the Father manifests himself in him

in perfection and how he achieved perfection of service. Jesus' life is within us in the form of the

Spirit of Truth. By looking to Jesus much misunderstanding of what it means to be perfect and to

achieve perfection of service can be avoided. When looking at the life of Jesus, we first see a human

being, admittedly a perfected human being, but nevertheless a human being. The fact of his humanity

demonstrates once and for all that while being humanly perfect is an exalted state, it is not an

impossible one. It also demonstrates that being human does not preclude the attainment of perfection

of service.

Jesus was subjected to the same handicaps and delays that we are subjected to. He experienced the

ups and down of a mortal existence just as you and I. We are told in Hebrews of Jesus' human state:

"who in the days of the flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying

and tears unto him who was able to save him from death, and was heard because he that he feared."

So we see that perfection of service is to be had despite the vicissitudes of mortal existence. In order

for this statement to be true, we must realize that it is not the quantity of service but the quality of

service that bears emphasis in achieving perfection of service. Quantity of material service is subject

to the handicaps and delays of time and space, whereas quality of service is not. Quality of service

is manifested whenever and where ever service is rendered. It is not so much the nature of the

material act that constitutes perfection of service; it is the quality of the act.

We know that a given act can range from a total lack of quality to one saturated with quality. The

act can be motivated by selfishness, or it can be motivated by a sense of duty. But in the spiritual

service, the acts are motivated by genuine spiritual love. The motive is the pure desire to serve, to

reveal the Father's love in the process of serving. We know that love and mercy can be shown

regardless of the physical or emotional state. All that is required is an intact mind, a divine spirit, and

the wholehearted desire to do the Father's will. And it is indeed amazing to see such a display of

divine love and mercy even when the one who is displaying it is suffering. Spiritual service can be

seen in listening, giving words of comfort and encouragement, sharing in a disagreeable experience

with a brother or sister as well as the more material acts of service. But the error of maintaining an

attitude of not serving because of some physical handicap takes one far away from the land of

perfected spiritual service.

Spiritual service in its truest sense is the transfer of spiritual values from one brother and sister to

another. And though these values may be propagated in the material vehicle, never lose sight that

it is the values that are being propagated not the material vehicle. This understanding prevents

discouragement when there is failure to consummate the material act either in part or in whole. The

emphasis is on the love and mercy that is displayed in the act of service. The quest for perfection of

spiritual service is no more or less than the quest for divine perfection.

Spiritual service is the mechanism whereby the loving and merciful Father manifests love and mercy

to his mortal children. So to achieve perfection of spiritual service, we must achieve divine

perfection even as the human Jesus did. In this search for perfection of spiritual service and

perfection of character, we are in the process of removing all selfish considerations from the service

we provide. This allows the Father's love and mercy to flow freely without selfish obstruction. We

know that the selfish regard in service blocks the merciful light of the Father's love.

Through service we witness and realize the different manifestations of the Father's love. Remember

that each vehicle that carries spiritual values carries a different flavor; and though the value remains

the same, the meaning of the quality is different. As we seek to perfect our selves through and with

service, we discover the divine spirit who always works through love. We respond to the Father's

command to be perfect even as the Father is perfect and also respond to the quest for perfection of

service--the avenue of expression for Father in the lives of his sons and daughters.

This concludes today's message on the search for perfection of service. We hope you find something

in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day.

Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry

Inspirational Messages

By Dr. James Perry

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done!

The Search for Perfection of Service