Are You A Perfect 10? The James Sequence

You remember that movie The Perfect Ten with Bo Derek? Yeah, I thought you would. It’s become a universal representation for what everyday women should look like. Or I should say try to look like. So how many of you have lived up to that criteria? Do I see any hands?

Outward appearance, how we look to other people, has become a status symbol. Do we have the right up-to-date hair style and cut? Do our clothes have the best labels, shown specifically on the outside of our clothing now so as to make sure people see them and acknowledge that we can afford to shop at certain stores? Are we the right height, weight, size? Do we have the prettiest hair and eye colors? Are we perfect tens in the world’s view?

I’d like you to see God’s description of a perfect ten. It’s found in James 1:2-4:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Did you notice that the passage didn’t say anything about perfect relating to outward appearances? It talks about endurance and patience, and if we make it through the various trials before us, we’ve reached a good end! Because we’ve made it, God counts that as perfect and complete and whole.

I know some perfect tens. One is a lady around 80 years old who has endured so many trials in her life that her countenance shines like 2500 florescent light bulbs! She draws people to her like a magnet because she has been where they are now. She’s lived through the fires and has risen above the scorching flames because of God’s influence in her life. It shows in every little thing she says and every action she completes.

Perfect tens are not always noticed. Sometimes they are the prayer warriors on their knees for others going through trials. Often these warriors can sense God’s leading for them to pray before the trials even arise. They are so close to God there is no space between them and the Savior. They sense His heart for others and in this way serve Him with strong hearts through prayer.

So don’t look in the mirror to find out if you’re a perfect ten. Go look in His Word to find the patience that will bring you to a complete and perfect life on the inside. Sounds perfect to me!