Practice God’s Teachings Each Day
For just a moment or two, I want you to think back on the summer days of your childhood. Do you remember learning to ride a bicycle? You were probably taught at some point in your upbringing, and you almost certainly wiped out and scraped your knees a few times in the process. Eventually, though, you got the hang of things, and riding a bicycle became an everyday staple in your childhood. As the old saying says, “practice makes perfect!” Things might be difficult at first, but you can eventually learn to do something very well if you continue doing it many times. Repetition leads to proficiency, and proficiency leads to habits. Deliberately practicing new behaviors will help you to learn to do better, and it will forge good habits in the place of bad ones. So, practice, practice, and practice some more!
The apostle Paul definitely understood the importance of what you practice in the life of God’s people! As he was drawing his prison letter to the church at Philippi to a close, he said, “what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9 ESV). The word “practice” translates a Greek term which means to “preform repeatedly or habitually.” In this immediate context, the apostle Paul is encouraging the Philippian saints to practice repeatedly everything they have been taught (i.e. his preaching and letters) and seen (i.e. his apostolic example). The Philippians were to follow the truth Paul proclaimed along with the example of that truth which Paul lived before them. They were to allow the Gospel to be the standard of their lives. In so doing, they would grow in their walk with God, develop greater spiritual habits, and experience “the God of peace” in their daily lives. Paul is clear that the way to obtain the blessings of the God of peace is to lead a holy life that is faithfully honoring God’s teachings.
If we were to back up within this context, we would notice that Paul has already written about our attitude (v.4) and our prayers (vv.6-7). Now, the apostle continues by addressing our behavior. You see, all three are linked to experiencing “the peace of God, which surpasses all under-standing” (Philippians 4:7). I must think right, pray right, and live right if I want to truly know God’s peace in my life! Therefore, I must intentionally decide to wake up each day and honor the Father’s will in my life. I will develop greater spiritual habits the more I try to live out God’s teach-ings. I will grow in my walk with God, and my spiritual relationship with Him will be enriched each day. Knowing God’s teachings is not enough; I’ve got to put it into practice in my daily life. How are you doing in this department? How much are you practicing your faith? Practice makes perfect, and it’s absolutely essential to experience God’s peace in 2021!
Brandon Baggett is a former Pulpit Minister for Eastern Meadows Church of Christ.
