As a 4th grader playing organized football for the first time, I can remember practicing the fundamentals of blocking and tackling over and over again. In fact, after loosening up with calisthenics, fundamentals were the first thing we practiced every day. Fast forward to my last year of NCAA Division 1 football, immediately after calisthenics, we broke into our groups to practice the fundamentals of blocking and tackling over and over again. Putting fundamentals into practice is essential to winning football or any sport.
Much like sports, the Bible often emphasizes the importance of practicing the fundamentals of our faith. Philippians 4:9 is not a popular verse but one that is dynamic, “9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Abiding peace not intermittent peace resides on those who practice His Word.
In John 8:31-32, Jesus made a similar proclamation, “31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue practicing My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Notice how Matthew states the impact of practicing His word in our lives in chapter 7, “24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” The “wise man who built his house on the rock…hearing the words of Jesus and putting into practice” will stay at peace no matter what “winds blow and beat.”
James, the brother of Jesus, states it this way, “22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:22-25) If you do (practice) what the word says, you will be blessed in what you do!
An old, wise adage states, “Practice makes perfect!” It is so true. Practice His word daily, and you will not “fall, because your foundation is built on the rock.” Be “do’ers” of the Word and not merely listeners.
Barnabas Man 