Practice, Practice, Practice
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:1-3
Many years in college, I spent doing all-nighters writing papers for classes. When that occurred, it was almost always done with classical music in the background. In listening to the synchronization of such a large group of people to make a melody sound near perfect always was a source of amazement. It made me wonder exactly how much time they must spend practicing before performing. For example, world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, figured he has spent 2,000 hours a year practicing. Thus, he has spent over 50,000 hrs. in his lifetime perfecting his craft. That sounds insane, but if you love something that much, you are willing to spend time perfecting it until you have it down pat.
As Christians, we often think of our journey as simple as know God’s law and follow it. We also know that we only know of one perfect Christian, and that is Jesus Christ himself. Thus, it is a labor of practice. Some things are simple such as following the commandments while others are a bit more complex such as the concept of God’s grace. No matter what it is, it takes practice. I was so happy the first time I went through a lent season from beginning to end! Forget the previous six years where I tried only to fall short each time. You see, it is much like one of my favorite gospel songs goes. We fall down, but we get up for a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up.
Meditation on God's word is a fundamental aspect of Christian life. It involves not only reading the Scriptures but also pondering their meaning and application in our daily lives. When we meditate on God’s word, we allow it to permeate our thoughts and guide our actions. This practice helps us to internalize the teachings of Jesus and the principles of love, grace, and forgiveness that are central to faith. This past week, we heard the Pope say some things that created quite a stir. He used words that implied not everyone is a sinner. Now, he has preached numerous times about how all have sinned, and as a church leader, he should be wary of his choice of words. Yet, a multitude of people want to condemn him, and some even went as far as to call him the devil’s minion. Keep in mind these were not nonbelievers saying this but fellow Christians. It is as if the concept of grace had been lost. James 1:19 states clearly, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” Perhaps, a simple follow up question is what was needed if there was a true concern over the statement. If we meditate on God’s word and delight in His laws, we truly get the heart of what He wants, which is us to follow Him. Not tear each other down. It does not mean failing to discuss these issues. It does mean to pray, read, and utilize the God inspired wisdom to gain clarity and focus on what is meant over what is said. It is to know the heart of the person and not their flaws and failures. It is to forgive over casting stones. We know these things because that is how Jesus Christ saw us. Call the process of being more Christ like ‘practice.’ Meditation and practice are intertwined activities that reinforce each other.
Being a follower of Christ by its nature is imperfect. Yet, as today’s verses say we grow bearing fruits of the spirit, and they lead to spiritual prosperity. That is not to say it is easy. However, just as a cellist learns how to become exceptional through hours of practice, we become better followers of hours of meditation on being more Christ centered in our life. Let us put in the effort toward both studying and applying God’s word in our day-to-day activities. How can you best make time for God’s word? Where can you practice applying it in your life? My prayer is we work diligently and as the adage goes, practice, practice, practice. Amen.