Practice Precedes Progress

 "The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers.  A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. All the believers were united and shared everything.  They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them.  Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity.  They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47

In a seminar I attended years ago, Dr. Stanley Ott told a story. He had gone for a walk with his son.  Being  drawn to a  large puddle off the path, his son quickly ran to it. “It’s moving!” the boy exclaimed.  As they looked, the pond was filled with thousands of tiny tadpoles.  His son asked if they could take some home, and Stanley agreed.  They scooped up several dozen in a clear plastic container and kept them in a place that they could watch them change into frogs.  They kept the water fresh and fed them fish food every day, but nothing happened.  After a few weeks, they returned to the puddle to see how the other tadpoles were doing.  Much to Stanley’s surprise, the puddle was empty. That’s when he noticed hundreds of tiny frogs hopping nearby.

He asked a scientist friend why his tadpoles didn’t change into frogs.  The answer? “It matters what you feed them, Stanley.  Not everything they eat will make them grow.”

 If we want to be disciples, it matters what we feed our spirits.  Would we expect to eat only ice cream and doughnuts 6 ½ days a week and eat vegetables once a week and be healthy? Of course not.  Neither should we expect to fill our minds and hearts with all sorts of junk during the week and have Sunday morning make everything alright. 

  The early believers spent their time doing specific things.  They learned about Jesus from the apostles. Christian fellowship,  praying together, and having communion occurred whenever they met.  They demonstrated sacrificial giving, worship every day, shared joy and praise, and extended hospitality to others within their homes. (Acts 2:42-47)

They were growing in grace through the practice of spiritual disciplines. We do not become disciples overnight, but it takes time for our lives to more closely reflect Jesus. Practice precedes progress.

Miss Mary Lou Couch taught me piano for about 6 years through instruction and by example.  Mostly, she taught me through making me practice.   Thirty years ago, I promised Mary Lou and my mom that if I quit taking lessons, that I would continue to play and learn. I grew in my ability to play by spending time sitting at a bench. Practice preceded progress.

  We, too, are instruments that have been created to play a song for others that reflects the love and grace of God.  But not all of us are pianists;so, what can we do?  God offers us many different ways to grow as disciples, but we have to take the time to work on them – to practice – to allow the Holy Spirit to shape us over time.

Being a disciple doesn’t happen by magic, it happens as we live the faith we believe.  We cannot just dress up, attend worship, and grow. We have to allow Jesus to change us daily to be like him.  

I received a beautiful, antique harmonica that is prominently displayed in my office.  You might think that I am quite a gifted player if you see me hold it.  I have not, however, taken the time to practice. Holding a harmonica does not make me a player. Sitting in church does not make us disciples. 

 I am not saying that what we do makes us Christian.  No, only knowing Christ makes us Christian.  Think of being a Christian like being married.  Once we say vows, we are married. Once we profess our faith, we are claimed by Christ.  Whether that relationship is a good one depends on the effort we give to growing in that relationship.  Works do not save us.  However, spiritual disciplines do draw us close to the heart of God.

 If we are faithful to practice, God will grow us in grace.  Practice precedes progress.

The Problem with Assumptions

“They’re drunk on cheap wine.” --Acts 2:13

 Can you believe that the Bible talks about people being intoxicated?  The scripture verse is actually a quote from a casual observer of the disciples.  This person could tell by the way they were talking that they had far too much to drink.

A couple years ago, I was driving on Pendleton Street in Easley, SC getting ready to take the acceleration ramp to Highway 123.  Before I could turn, a driver nearly missed the turn and swerved wildly onto the ramp.  She was off the road and then on the road (and then off again).  I couldn’t believe that I was following a drunk driver!  I called the police and followed her to a traffic light.  The light was red, but she did not stop until the middle of the intersection.  As people tried to avoid hitting her, she was startled by the truck honking a horn in front of her so that she bolted through the intersection.  She continued for almost a mile driving quite erratically.  I was on the phone with the police while I followed.  The next thing I knew, she bumped into the back of a car that was stopped for another traffic light.  I pulled close enough to her bumper so that she could not back up and get away. 

Once the police arrived at the scene of the accident and interviewed everyone, I asked if the woman was okay.  To be honest, I really wanted to know why they had not put handcuffs on her yet.  The police officer explained that the woman was a diabetic according to her bracelet and that she was likely dealing with severe health effects of low blood sugar.  They had given her a small piece of candy, and an ambulance was on the way. Boy, had I made an assumption, or what?

Those watching the disciples on the day of Pentecost got it wrong, too.  They assumed that they were drunk on new wine (The Message says ‘cheap,’ I assume, because newer wine is cheaper – irony intended). Because their basic assumptions were wrong, Peter had to stand and explain the meaning of the event that the crowd was witnessing.

Oftentimes we struggle, we strain, we work to battle against the things that are making our lives difficult. If only we could push a big, red button and fix the problems out there everything would be fine.  But what if we are wrong?  What if our assumptions have missed the mark?  Could we be trying to solve a problem that isn’t the problem?

Enter the movie “The King’s Speech” which is based on the true story of King George VI who battled a speech impediment.  One of the earliest scenes has a doctor instructing him first to smoke (it relaxes the larynx) and then to stuff his mouth full of marbles.  The future king nearly chokes!  Trying to find help, the king’s wife enlists the assistance of a speech therapist who quickly concludes that the problem is not a physical issue at all.  All other attempts were failing because they were treating his mouth and throat when many of his issues were based on triggers and fears present in his mind.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, “Don’t judge according to appearances. Judge with right judgment.” John 7:24  In other words, be careful of assumptions.  And when it comes to problems that we are having with others, the first assumptions to question belong to the person in the mirror.

Grace and Peace,