Practicing Godliness

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4 (ESV)

Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1 Tim 4:7-8 (ESV)

I live near a driver testing center and every weekend the lot around the licensing center is buzzing with potential drivers practicing their three-point turns and parallel parking techniques hoping to pass their upcoming driver’s test. I remember well those days of taking the family car out and driving around a parking lot until my parents felt comfortable actually letting me practice driving on the road.

Parallel parking was one of the toughest disciplines to master. Knowing just when to turn the wheel to get the backend of the car close enough to the curb without running over it or worse, wiping out the parked car in front of or in back of you. Some people never master this technique and just avoid going anywhere where parallel parking is required.

Over the years I have gotten pretty good at parallel parking. In fact it has become almost second nature to me. Like anything else if you practice something properly long enough you eventually get better at it. I am glad that there are requirements for operators of motor vehicles. Although all operators must be licensed does not mean that everyone behind the wheel of a vehicle is operating their vehicle in a safe way. It is comforting to know that all drivers are required to take an initial driver’s test before they can legally drive but as time goes on some of these drivers should probably go back for a refresher course.

There are many professions that require licensing to perform the duties of that profession. Lawyers must pass a bar exam to practice law in a community. Doctors and nurses are required to get a license to practice medicine. Financial advisors and insurance salesmen need special licensing to offer their financial advice. Realtors are required to be licensed to sell real estate. And the list goes on.

Although some occupations and activities are regulated by licensing and require testing to keep current with new laws and regulations many are not. Although couples need a license to marry they do not need a license to become a parent.

Politicians do not have to be licensed to pass laws that affect the entire population. I wish they would be held accountable for their wasteful spending and negligence. In fact the only requirement to be elected President of the United States is to be a natural-born citizen of at least the age of 35 and lived in the United States for at least 14 years. Wow doctors are required to have higher qualifications to operate on people but the person who can sign the laws regulating the medical profession could be a high school drop out.

There are no licenses required to affirm a person’s character, and no regulations requiring a person to act respectful either. There are no written tests to take to qualify as human beings perhaps that would explain the many mean people in the world.

Practice makes better they say, but if you do not practice properly you will only reinforce bad habits and never gain the skills needed to pass a test. Therefore it is important that you practice any skill properly to master that skill.

Habits and character are also shaped by repetition. If we practice lawlessness we become better at being lawless. If we practice immorality we become better at being immoral. If we practice stealing or lying we become better thieves and liars. If however we practice goodness, honesty, fidelity, and godliness we become better at each of these traits.

What character traits would you like to develop? If your desire is godliness then you need to practice godliness, otherwise you are perfecting godlessness. Godliness has great rewards both now and hereafter. This is a trait worth developing don’t you think?

And that is this weeks tail feather.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. _{Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)}

Along for the journey