John talks about practice in reference to sin and righteousness (1 John 3:4-10). John is clear that those that practice sinning are lawless and unfaithful. Additionally, those that make a practice of sinning do not belong to the Father. Because God is holy, those that practice sin prove that the Father is not in him/her.
This should not be so. As John says, the evidence that the Father is in people is the measure of righteousness by which they live their lives. If we are in Him, we will live and desire to live by His holy standards of righteousness. This means that we will make an intentional practice of pursuing His righteousness.
There is an old adage: practice makes perfect. This is not correct. In truth, only perfect practice makes perfect. In spiritual terms, this means that the manner and method by which we practice righteousness must be righteous in order for it to be right practice. This means that we will be aware not just of the "what" of practicing righteousness, but also the "how" of practicing righteousness.
In music, perfect practice has two basic features: (1) consistency, and (2) a good teacher. This is the same for the Christian life. Consistency means that we read the Word regularly, we are in prayer often, and we seek opportunities to serve. The second part, having a good teacher, points to the necessity of being tied to a local church.
Local churches, especially the elders/spiritually mature thereof, are responsible for discipling believers and helping them to grow into mature believers. Getting involved and being committed to local churches is essential for Christian growth. Remember, practicing, though not always desirable, is both rewarding and challenging but it is required when it comes to righteousness and living out the Christian life.
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