Practice Makes Perfect

Being a Christian is a skill like any other profession. It is not limited to a select group of people who have some special talent which allows them to be faithful while others fail. Christians who are faithful to God, are people who practice their convictions. They work at it. They try to improve. They're concerned about their souls. They analyze their weaknesses, and strive to strengthen themselves in those areas.

2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Thus, Paul admonishes Timothy, and us, to diligently seek God's approval, and to be become skilled in the use of the word of truth. "Rightly dividing the word of truth" simply means to become skilled in its use.

The American standard version translates this passage, "handling aright the word of truth." Handling the word of God properly is dependent upon the principle of practice. We must become familiar with God's word so that we can use it effectively. We must apply the word to new problems, consult it to answer various questions, and use it in defense of the faith. As someone put it, "The way to do that is to just do it!"

We should not be fearful. We will miss now and then, but if we hit home runs every time we got up to bat, there wouldn't be any room for improvement. We can't be perfect by ourselves, but if we practice, God has promised to reward us with perfection in heaven according to 1 Corinthians 15:49-57.

In the meantime, its our duty to practice. Study the word. Meditate on it. Develop a desire to learn more, to understand more. Use the word in everyday situations, apply it to our lives. If we have a true desire to improve at something, we practice. If we want to be good at it, we practice. If we want to go to heaven, we practice.