Do not be deceived.  He who practices righteousness, that man is righteous.  And he who practices sin and wickedness, that man is a sinner and wicked.

Do not hang your heart to death in a deadly tangle of those three words: righteousness, sin and wickedness.  Rather be merciful to yourself, and see the point.

Practice!  Practice!  Practice! 

Grace abounds for those who do “practice”.  Just as a doctor is given a certificate of training, that he may go and practice his work.

How many have fallen away because they see the mountain is too high to climb?  They will never know to what rock, or outcropping they may have been able to ascend.  The glittering hope of those who gave up, litter the foothills of the mountain of God.

Consider perfection.  But you have no right to wear it.  If you let the expectation of perfection ruin you, then the fault is exclusively yours.  Perfection belongs to God.  The practice of it belongs to man in Christ.

It is highly likely that even the master musicians will occasionally make a misstep with their fingers.  When their shock dissipates, you will find them practicing that unexpected failure over and over and over again.

A dear brother in Christ once put it this way: “You have heard people say practice makes perfect.  I tell you that’s not true.  Rather, perfect practice makes perfect.”

He who mixes sin and righteousness in what he practices, cannot possibly accomplish the latter.  Yet he who is found practicing to the best of his utmost, is rewarded.

This is the reason for grace.  Climb with confidence!