PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (JOHN 2:1-10)

REFLECTION The theme for our reflection is practice makes perfect. Practice makes perfect means the regular exercise of an activity or skill is the way to become proficient in it. To become a professional football player, a person must exercise regularly and play often. Similarly to grow in faith and have one’s faith yield spiritual fruits, a…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Apr 14, 2023

2–4 minutes

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is practice makes perfect. Practice makes perfect means the regular exercise of an activity or skill is the way to become proficient in it. To become a professional football player, a person must exercise regularly and play often. Similarly to grow in faith and have one’s faith yield spiritual fruits, a believer must constantly trust and obey Jesus Christ. In matters of faith, practice makes perfect means constantly trusting and obeying the Word of God or the teachings of Jesus in becoming perfect in faith. In other words, trust and obedience lead to fruit-bearing faith. Mary, the mother of Jesus, understood the importance of trusting and obeying Jesus, therefore, when there was scarcity of wine, she said to the servants at the wedding ceremony “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5). Dear friend, for a believer to grow and become perfect and strong in faith, he or she must practice the directive given by Mary to the servants by doing whatever Jesus tells us to do.

Beloved in the Lord, many Christians desire faith that leads to transformation or miracles yet they are unwilling to obey Jesus. The servants obeyed every instruction given to them by Jesus and in the end, there was an abundance of the best wine. “Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. (John 2:7-9). Dear friend, if we want to grow and become strong and perfect in our faith and relationship with Jesus then we must start practising the spiritual principles of trusting and obeying Jesus. It was, for this reason, Jesus during the Great Commission, said to His disciples to “teach them (believers) to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) Paul also emphasised the importance of trust and obedience in the matters of faith when he wrote that “…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Beloved in the Lord, have you been consistent in trusting and obeying God through the daily reading, studying and application of His Word in your life? How often do we reflect the perfect image of Christ in our life as a way of obeying Him and demonstrating our faith in Him? When we practice the spiritual principle of trusting and obeying the Word of God, we shall become perfect in faith and be blessed. Jesus assures us that “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. (Luke 11:28) Shalom

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen us to become perfect in faith by trusting and obeying our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and may our trust and obedience yield a fruit-bearing faith through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn: Trust and obey

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.