“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.” — 1 John 3:10
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Through my experience over the years, I’ve been able to see who puts in the time to practice getting better. Some athletes have been blessed with a natural talent to excel in certain sports; therefore, they might not have to work as hard as others. Most, however, need to put in extra time to hone their craft.
Elite athletes understand that there will always be others coming behind them who are bigger, stronger and even more talented than they are, so they are willing to put in extra effort to continually improve. Those who are content will, most certainly, eventually be passed by.
The disciple John is writing to believers in 1 John 3:7-10. His purpose for writing is to remind each of us that what we practice in our lives matters. When we enter a relationship with Jesus Christ, our lives should change. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” The evidence of that new life is a new pattern or practice of living. If nothing has changed, then we need to examine ourselves to see if we really have come into a relationship with God.
We will never become sinless, but as we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we should be sinning less. Doing what is right in God’s eyes — practicing righteousness — will become the pattern for our lives.
— Mickey Weston, Chicago White Sox chaplain
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