In order to be good at anything, one needs to practice. We have all seen number one teams in the nation lose. There are very few teams that remain undefeated throughout a whole season and conclude it with a championship win. Have you ever heard, “Practice beats talent when talent won’t practice”? Teams and individuals who demonstrate a lackadaisical work ethic but are highly talented struggle to live up to their potential. Less talented teams and individuals have won many contests. How many underdog stories have you heard?
John compared walking in darkness (living in sin) with walking in the light (living in service to God) in his first epistle. Notice, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6). The idea behind “do not practice the truth” refers to a hearer not doing the truth – not living according to the truth. James urged in his epistle, “…receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:21-22). Jesus taught, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
Christianity is not a religious set of “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots” with which we strictly comply dull-mindedly. The Bible describes Christianity as a lifestyle that honors God and shuns evil. This means we must practice biblical teaching. The commands of Scripture serve as teachers that help us to understand how to live this life. The practicing of God’s will changes our attitudes toward good and evil. In order to turn away from evil, we must love what is good. Let us hold God’s Word close to our hearts so we can become who God desires for us to be.
