Someone has noted, “Practice isn’t something you ever finish.” [source: coverbandcentral.com]
As a musician, I understand that. And my wife has endured hearing me play the same few measures over and over again as I have practiced music to be performed with our local symphony orchestra. However, it is also true relative to our spiritual growth. As Christians, ever since we rose from the waters of baptism to walk the new life in Christ (Romans 6:4) we have been on a journey of transformation; becoming what God wants us to be. (i.e. 2 Corinthians 3:18) Are we continuing to focus on our training in righteousness? (note 2 Timothy 3:16-17) It is through practice that the perfecting process continues progressing.
Encouraging ongoing growth, the writer of Hebrews exhorted. . .
“(12) For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, (13) for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. (14) But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14 ESV)
Infants have milk given to them. They don’t go looking for it, buy it, and then bottle it for themselves. It is provided by their loving parents. Eventually soft foods are introduced with the goal of moving onto eating more solid food. While growing up, it is the parents who make the decisions regarding diet, but the expectation is for the child to eventually grow up to make their own good choices of diet. The same is true spiritually. In desiring to grow and therefore nourishing ourselves with the meat of God’s Word, we grow in distinguishing good from evil. And such is to remain our “constant practice” so as to continue maturing and growing stronger in our faith.
Paul noted things in which he urged Timothy to continue to practice for his further progress as he engaged in ministry. (1 Timothy 4:11-15) Peter also noted qualities effort was to be put into for supplementing our faith, thus enabling greater effectiveness and fruitfulness in our knowledge and living. (2 Peter 1:5-8) The practicing is to continue for ongoing growth in our Christian life. Remaining open to God’s continuing work of transformation, may we continue practicing what will aid the better performance of His Divine Will in our daily life!
Have a great day PRACTICING GODLINESS FOR BETTER SPIRITUAL PERFORMANCE!
Carl
