Tag Archives: training

Practice

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John 3:21 mentions those who “practice“ the truth. In our vocabulary practicing means pretty much taking a stab at something. “Well I hope this works out.” But there are quite a few different meanings to the word practice that are worth examining. Let the readers decide for themselves which words best reflect God‘s intention. The numbers after each word or how many times they occur in the Bible.

accomplished (1), act (4), acted (3), acting (1), acts (2), appointed (3), away* (1), bear (5), bearing (1), bears (3), become (1), bore (1), bring (1), bring…to pass (1), bring about (2), bringing (1), brings forth (1), call (1), carried (1), carries (1), carry (1), cause (3), causes (2), causing (1), commit (2), commits (2), committed (4), composed (1), consider (1), created things (1), dealt (1), did (33), did…do (2), do (170), does (16), does…do (1), doing (38), done (43), establishing (1), execute (4), exercises (1), expose* (1), formed (1), formed a conspiracy (1), forms (1), gave (4), give (4), gives (1), giving (1), have (2), have kept (1), having (1), held (1), indulging (1), keep (3), keeps (1), kept (1), made (38), make (47), makes (7), making (9), observe (2), offer (1), offering (1), perform (4), performed (8), performing (7), performs (1), practice (5), practices (11), practicing (1), present (1), proceeding (1), produce (3), produced (1), produces (2), producing (1), provide (1), put (1), satisfy* (1), setting (1), show (2), showed (1), shown (1), spend (1), spent (4), took (1), treat (6), treated (1), weaker (1), worked (1), working (1).

Acid to the Body

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Psalm 126 verse 4 has a curious thing to say.  “Bring back our captivity, Oh Lord . . .”

While the nations call for joy, the Lord corrects his people with blazing strength.  While they call for celebration, let the people of God ask for training.

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word.”  (Psalm 119:67)

“Unless your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” (Psalm 119: 92)

Do not be like those who revel in wicked abandon.  Do not be like those who “gather” that they may have joy.  Let us be of the Living God’s Holy Son.  Let us train our tongue to love taste of that which is acid to the body, yet sweetness unto eternal life.

Climb With Confident Faith

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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!

The cost of righteousness

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On the news this morning they said that they would no longer be able to help against bullying.  Funding for the program has been cut off.  Now the children of that school district will be at the mercy of the young children who love evil.

Are you kidding me?  Money is the source of righteous behavior?  We need money to restrain the evil children among us?  But isn’t this what they are saying?  I am astounded at the blindness of America!

What cost is there to speak of what is true, boldly, defiantly, and timely?  What cost is there to refuse service to parents who will not control their children?  In fact we could save money if we went after righteous training properly.

But man considers himself God if he has money to spend.  Take away his money and he is helpless to do what is right!  This is what they are saying!  (I yelled)

The cost of righteous behavior is nothing more than humility.  But punishments are taken away from evil doers .  Psychology is used instead of God’s Holy Word.  And proudly, man stands and says, “I have achieved godhood!  I rule over all people.  By my discretion they live or die.  For I am the keeper of the cookie jar!”

Take away your money and you are a pathetic lump of flesh.  For you trust in the riches of this world, and give no glory to the Righteous One.

But what sickens me more than your pathetic strength, is how the people agree that you are right.  Those who sin, those who teach sin, and those who say Amen to the sinful teachers, will receive the same reward; both in this life and the age to come!

I would urge America to wake up.  You sleep a sleep toward death.  By your own willful ignorance you raise an enemy in your own house.  And you will reap the crop you have planted.

How I wish it were different.  It was not this way when I was young.  But “wish” is the proper word.  For you have made your choice and you will not turn.

So be it!  Even now the judgment of God builds against such things of man.  The wise will perceive.  The proud will spit in the face of the Holy Righteous God, even on the very day when they are judged.