The Perfect Man 6
For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature (James 3:2 AMPC).
What a remarkable rendering of the striking qualities of a perfect man; James relays that a perfect man is someone who does not make mistakes in his speech or in what he says, someone who does not offend in speech nor says the wrong things.
In Matthew 5:48 KJV Jesus said "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." God is perfect, He does not offend in speech, He never says the wrong things, His speech is perfectly true, He does not make a mistake in what He says and He is in perfect control. According to Psalm 12:6 His words "are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times." God's words are perfect.
The question to ask as a Christian is: Where do we come in and how is this relevant to the lives we're living today? Ephesians 5:1 instructs, "Therefore be imitators of God, copy Him and follow His example, as well-beloved children imitate their father." We are expected to imitate our Heavenly Father. The Wonderful reality comprised in this simple instruction is that it is possible for man, particularly the Christian, to imitate God.
What does it mean then to imitate God (perfection)? It means your speech is perfectly true, it does not offend and you make no mistakes in what you say. It means your words are flawless and you're therefore in perfect control of life. No wonder in one of the letters written to New Creatures, Paul commends "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one" (Colossians 4:6 NKJV).
Child of God, this is the minimum standard expected of us. We've been created in the image of God and in his likeness (Genesis 1:27) meaning we look like God and we ought to function like him. We should also therefore speak like Him. Our speech ought to be perfect, flawless and full of grace at all times. SPEAK THE WORD ALL THE TIME.
As we adhere to and abide by this remarkable truth, we're forever positioned at a place of advantage in life. Whatever comes our way, we maintain our confessions of Faith, responding with perfect and flawless words, fully conscious of what Jesus said in Mark 11:23 "you shall have what you say" Glory to God!
Confession:
I imitate God in His perfection. Every word that I speak forth is perfect, flawless and seasoned with grace. I live above every situation and circumstance in my life and I've overcome them, for the word of God in my mouth is my advantage.
Further study:
Genesis 1:27
James 3:2 MSG, GNT
Joshua 1:8 NKJV
Jeremiah 1:9 NIV