The Same Right Things
The walk of a Christ follower is much like shooting free throws for the basketball player. He might miss shots at first, but with consistency and persistence, those missed shots are replaced by made shots. Free throws become truly that, with disciplined consistency and persistence.
Similar to practicing free throws, spiritual disciplines become truly that, with disciplined consistency and persistence. Consistency and persistence are the two legs on which the Christian life is walked. Doing the same thing, and doing the same thing over and over. More than that, it’s doing the same right things, and doing the same right things over and over.
Paul writes, “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:13-14, ESV). For those delivered from death and sin to life in Jesus, we are no longer bound by the sin that held us. We have been saved from its captivity, so we have the responsibility to live like it. We have a responsibility to present ourselves to God and our members to His service consistently and persistently.
Paul takes this point home in Romans 6:19: “For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” We have a new master, One with new expectations. However, in meeting these expectations, we journey to a new destination. In disciplined consistency and persistence to Him and in His service, we move to the destination of being made more like the righteous One, Jesus, as we exercise righteousness.
We have a new allegiance. We must live like it. We must live in it. But we are not alone in this effort. Paul also says, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” The Spirit changed us, enabling obedient, disciplined service.
Therefore, walk by the Spirit through spiritual disciplines to spiritual maturity. Over time, we will mature, just like the basketball player at that free throw line. We will be more like Jesus, through consistency and persistence. Do the same right things, and do the same right things over and over.