‘He is like one who comes to Me and hears my words and puts them into practice.’ Luke 6:47
A famous pianist was giving an interview after one of his concerts. The interviewer gave him much praise and then said, ‘You are such a great pianist now that I expect you don’t have to practice much.’ With a wry smile the pianist replied, ‘If I don’t practice for one day I know, if I don’t practice for two days my wife knows and if I don’t practice for three days, the world knows.’
How like the Christian life. If we don’t pray and study the Bible for one day God knows, if we don’t speak to God and read His word for two days, we know and our closeness to Him is lessened. If we don’t study the Bible and pray to God for three days our lives will reflect this and our witness for Him will be less effective.
The word ‘perseverance’ is much used in the Bible with good reason. God knows how easily we can be drawn away from Him. The world is close, pressing in it’s demands. Good daily habits are necessary to keep this world at bay.