But there are those who study the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continue to do it. They don’t listen and then forget, but they put it into practice in their lives. They will be blessed in whatever they do. - James 1:25
I, like many of us, had heard and learned that, “practice makes perfect.” This phrase is especially true any time I needed to get better at something. Didn’t matter if it were for a sports team, or musical instrument, always I heard “practice, practice, practice, because practice makes perfect.” That is until my freshman year of high school. Just before classes began I arrived on campus for band camp; a chance to get some early hazing, yet also a change to make new friends. Camp was also a chance to practice for the upcoming marching season. As I was looking around the band room, up on the wall was a quote by Larry Gelwix. “practice does not make perfect, practice makes permanent.” To add further insult or inspiration (depending on how you took it) the quote continued, “perfect practice makes perfect.”
I think it is safe to say that when it comes to living, we are a little less than perfect in our practice. Though we live under redemption, and have been raised to new life in Christ, rarely do we get it perfect, we stumble and fall, and walk all over the place as we learn to be in step with Christ. However, there is one thing that I believe we do well, and that is to not forget the grace of God. We should never forget the freedom that we have been given in Christ, to live with hope and joy even in the midst of mistakes. Yes, we do need to ask forgiveness, we do need to make amends, yet we need to remember we are free from the burden of sin and death through Christ. We also cannot forget the joy that Christ gives us as we forgive others. God has blessed us indeed with the opportunities to worship, to learn, and to love in His perfect laws, let us not take those for granted, but in perfect practice move ever closer in devotion and worship.
I find that even though I am far from perfect in the way live, I am thankful for the people who have encouraged me along the way, made it possible for me to continue to practice, and to do so more perfectly. Even as imperfect people, we thank God that we believed in the law of freedom that we may live under that law, and practice that freedom each and every day.
Grace & Peace,
Sam