One of the factors in broken relationships is that one person has unrealistic expectations for their spouse.

If, for example, one person is a "neat freak", they may insist that the other be as tidy and organized as they are.

However, insisting on how your spouse must behave may be impossible for them to live up to.

Certainly, having an orderly life with everything in its right place is desirable. For those of us who are not as careful about being tidy, we could definitely improve.

It's the same in the spiritual realm as well.

We need to have perfection as our goal in life. However, we must recognize that in this life we will not attain the perfection we see in Jesus.

So our expectation of ourselves would be to improve and seek closer conformity to the perfection of our Saviour.

Paul acknowledges that he has not "arrived" at his goal in life.

Even the apostle Paul—a most remarkable person—recognized that he did not have it all together when he wrote Philippians.

Our verse from 1 John tells us that a time will come when we shall reach the goal of being just like Jesus, and that will only occur when we see Him.

So, make perfection your goal—but realize that all you can expect in this life is improvement and development in godliness.

Have a holy restlessness with what you have already attained and strive to be more Christlike tomorrow than you were today.

Don't be disappointed that you haven't reached the goal.

Instead, be encouraged as you recognize changes in your life that the Lord has made.

Expect to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord.

Keep the ultimate goal in mind and press on toward it with all of your strength.