Walking into a new friend’s home I spied an old piano just like the one my dad bought for Christmas in 1956 when I was in the 6th grade. We had just moved to Sacramento from a small town in the mountains. I began to take piano lessons at that time. It did not come naturally for I have short stubby fingers and am a bit awkward. But I would sit down on the piano bench and plunk away at the scales to the beat of a metronome as best I could. My teacher insisted that I use a metronome, hoping that it would increase my sense of tempo. It did help, plus Praise the LORD, in GOD’s mercy it prepared me for the days when I would lose my ability to hear many sounds. For I still could pick up on the tempo and enjoy the rhythm even though many tones were gone.
Daily I would faithfully sit and practice the scales and simple songs. I never got very far in learning to play for my instructions were cut short. It was a time of much upheaval in our family, and a few months after starting lessons I moved hundreds of miles away to live with my grandmother. Set in a strange new world getting to know my grandmother who I’d only seen once a year, going to a new school, and meeting new people pushed thoughts of playing the piano far away, and since money for lessons just wasn’t there, I never had another opportunity.
As I read in 1 John 3 my thoughts turned back to those daily practice sessions on the piano sixty-seven years ago. I remember that practicing my scales often felt like drudgery.
But living with my grandmother I found JESUS, or I should say HE claimed me. I am so thankful for GOD the FATHER’s unspeakable love shown so clearly when HE gave the LORD JESUS, HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believed in HIM would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). I marvel at how freely JESUS laid aside HIS position and rights, took on a human body and came in the flesh as a little human baby born and placed in an animal feeding trough. JESUS grew up in submission to ones HE had made. JESUS always taught and modeled GOD the FATHER perfectly (Hebrews 1:2-3). I stand in awe that JESUS did only what GOD the FATHER told HIM to do and then gave HIMSELF to die on the cross bearing all the sins of the world-past present and future. Astonishing many HE rose again on the 3rd day and is now seated at the right hand of FATHER GOD awaiting the day when HE will come for HIS bride, the church. It is written HE will remain in the clouds when HE calls us up to meet with HIM (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) and then 7 years later come to earth to put down rebellion and literally reign on the earth for 1,000 years.
What caught my attention in 1 John 3:1-10 was that until JESUS calls us up into the clouds to be with HIM and escape the 7 years of Jacob’s (Jewish) trouble also known as the wrath of GOD on the wicked and called the great Tribulation, we Christians are to be PRACTICING being like JESUS. PRACTICING meaning learning more and more and getting better and better at it just as one would if diligently practiced playing the piano.
Now there is a difference between PRACTICING doing right and legalism. Legalism is trying to gain GOD’s favor by how I act. JESUS already earned that for me. PRACTICING doing right is just trying to be more like my Savior JESUS. Like a little child gets steadier on his feet by trying to walk so I can walk closer with the HOLY SPIRIT by practicing to do right with HIS help.
It is said that “Practice makes perfect”. Well, I never got anywhere near being perfect in playing the piano, but I do choose to spend my days now practicing what the Word of GOD says.
“See how great a love the FATHER has given us, that we would be called children of GOD; and in fact we are. For this reason, the world does not know (understand) us: because it did not know (understand) HIM. Beloved, now we are children of GOD, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when HE (JESUS) appears, we will be like HIM, because we will see HIM just as HE is. And everyone who has this hope set on HIM (JESUS) purifies himself, just as HE (JESUS) is pure.
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that HE (JESUS) appeared in order to take away sins; and in HIM there is no sin. No one who remains in HIM (JESUS) sins continually; no one who sins continually has seen HIM or knows HIM. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as HE (JESUS) is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The SON of GOD appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who has been born of GOD practices (intentionally tries to do more and more) sin, because his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of GOD. By this the children of GOD and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD, nor the one who does not love his brother and sister.” (1 John 1-10 NASB).
Those verses tell us how to purify ourselves (live like one under a vow) as HE (JESUS) is pure (blameless, innocent, modest). We fix our eyes on JESUS and determine to follow HIS actions/ to do as JESUS would do (Hebrews 12:2). Remember the bracelets WWJD (what would JESUS do)? Following HIM it is only possible as we look to HIM and HE strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
Now here comes the part about PRACTICING that really caught my attention, and it must be extremely important for 6 times from 1 John 3:4 to 10 the Greek word poieo (Practice) is used. The NASB translates that word practicing all 6 times. When used as a participle that word means to be continually, actively devoted to, follow after, practicing something.
The verses speak of practicing doing right, or following after JESUS’ actions, and being right (1 John 3:7), or practicing sin and following after the devil (1 John 3:8).
There is a strong emphasis in these verses, that if you belong to GOD, you will practice to do right. That is, you will want to do what is right and good. Just as I want to play the right notes at the right tempo. But just as I would slip and hit the wrong note as I practiced on the piano, or as today I hit the wrong letter when I was texting a friend, I sometimes slip and sin. I do not delight in sinning, and am definitely not practicing making mistakes, but sometimes it does happen.
On the other hand, the lifestyle of this world, doing things “my way”, is practicing sin. Cain is spoken of in 1 John 3:11-12. He is said to be of the devil. But even before he murdered his brother, it is written that his works were evil. What did he do wrong? He was a farmer, was that wrong? I don’t think so. But Cain offered the product of his own work to GOD as an offering, when GOD had said it must be a blood sacrifice. Doing things our own way, instead of GOD’s way is evil. It is following after the devil’s way of wanting to be in control/ the one who calls the shots/ how things are done.
Our FATHER in heaven has decreed that we who love HIM will be transformed into JESUS likeness so that JESUS will be the 1st of many brethren (Romans 8:28-29). On our own that awesome transformation is totally impossible. The context indicates it is through both hard times and good that the process of our change is carried out. It is the work of the HOLY SPIRIT (2 Corinthians 3:18), through the prayers of JESUS (Hebrews 7:25). We can be a part of it if we practice what we learn and thus train ourselves to discern good from evil (Hebrews 5:14). In this way, we purify ourselves even as HE (JESUS) is pure.
I urge you in CHRIST’s stead to consider these things and may the good LORD give you wisdom and understanding (James 1:5, 1 Corinthians 2:10) as HE guides you with HIS peace (Colossians 3:15), strengthens you with HIS joy (Nehemiah 8:10), and enables you with HIS grace to practice being good(Hebrews 4:16). Now may the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT.”(Romans 15:13) Keep looking unto JESUS (Hebrews 12:2) and talk over all your thoughts with HIM (2 Corinthians 10:5).
hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 