We've likely heard the old adage, "practice makes perfect". It's partially true in that practice leads, not necessarily to perfection, but to a level of mastery. I've invested many hours of practice in baseball, basketball, track, and golf over the years but am far from perfect in any of these.
Practice is a two-edged sword. The level of mastery attained through practice can be good or bad, depending on the subject of our practice. Consider:
"everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness." (1 John 3:3,4) ... "Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning." (1 John 3:7,8) ... "No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:9,10)
The key question is, "What am I practicing?" What repetitive activities and habits are characteristic of my life? Am I "practicing" righteousness, or "practicing" wickedness? It is really one or the other. One of the devil's great schemes is to convince us that some activities are neutral - neither helpful or hurtful. Ultimately, whatever we practice - habits and activities - either build up or tear down. They draw us closer to the Lord or pushes us further away.
A periodic inventory of habits and activities is essential. Carefully scrutinizing our lives with the question, "Is this preparing me for life in the coming Kingdom or placing me in danger of judgment?", will reap eternal dividends.
No athlete ever excelled in a sport without practice. Similarly, no one will enter the Kingdom of God without practicing the lifestyle that the Lord desires.
Working on the "practice",
Steve
Practice is a two-edged sword. The level of mastery attained through practice can be good or bad, depending on the subject of our practice. Consider:
"everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness." (1 John 3:3,4) ... "Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning." (1 John 3:7,8) ... "No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:9,10)
The key question is, "What am I practicing?" What repetitive activities and habits are characteristic of my life? Am I "practicing" righteousness, or "practicing" wickedness? It is really one or the other. One of the devil's great schemes is to convince us that some activities are neutral - neither helpful or hurtful. Ultimately, whatever we practice - habits and activities - either build up or tear down. They draw us closer to the Lord or pushes us further away.
A periodic inventory of habits and activities is essential. Carefully scrutinizing our lives with the question, "Is this preparing me for life in the coming Kingdom or placing me in danger of judgment?", will reap eternal dividends.
No athlete ever excelled in a sport without practice. Similarly, no one will enter the Kingdom of God without practicing the lifestyle that the Lord desires.
Working on the "practice",
Steve
posted by steve @ 8:52 AM
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