Practice Makes Perfect

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Practice, noun.    the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it.

Practice, verb.    perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one's proficiency.

--Oxford Languages


 "Practice makes perfect."

I'm sure you've heard the phrase. To me it brings to mind the time I hid my piano books because I'd rather have watched tv or played outside than spent the afternoon working on chord progressions in the basement. 

"Practice makes perfect," my mom would remind me. But I had better things to do. 

"If practice makes perfect, and nobody's perfect, then why practice?" I was very proud of my response.

Of course, I was the one who had asked for the piano in the first place, and I would have loved to perform flawlessly in the school talent shows like many of my friends. But I didn't want to put in the time. 

My mom always reminded me that my piano teacher had also taught Amy Grant, and she saw the same promise in me that she had seen in her. Yet, as much as I idolized Amy, even that wasn't enough to drive me to dedication--maybe because I suspected my teacher said that to all her students. 

I always wanted to be musically gifted, but to this day, I can play a pretty decent Heart and Soul . . . and nothing else. 

Practice makes perfect.

With my own kids, I have always been careful to use the phrase "practice makes progress" instead. 

It feels like a truer expression: you might not ever reach perfection, but the more you practice, the more you will progress. 

We are careful not to put unnecessary pressures on our kids, assuring them that only Jesus was perfect, and everybody makes mistakes. And I believe those statements to be absolutely true. 

But did you know that the Bible actually tells us to be perfect?

Matthew 5:48 says, Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (NIV)

WHHHAAAT?

Record. Scratch.

These are red-letter words. This is Jesus giving His sermon on the mount. How could Jesus instruct us to be perfect, when He of all people surely knows that we cannot?

The AMP translation of this verse elaborates: You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity, both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This translation is the first place my mind goes when I think about what Jesus could have meant. Growing and actively integrating imply that idea of progress towards an ideal of perfection.

But if you look into the context, it's much more specific than some generic sense of progressing toward godliness. 

Jesus begins the section (Matthew 5:43-47) saying:

You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

According to a footnote in my study Bible, immediately following the command to love your enemies, some late manuscripts also include the elaboration, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you.

Throughout the Bible, the idea of perfection is often synonymous with the idea of completion.

The context of this particular perfection is love. Jesus is telling us to love completely. 

Not that we will never stumble. Not that we will never make mistakes. Not that we must be the most gifted or look good and clean and put-together while trying. 

But that we should not leave anyone out of our love. 

James 2:8-9 reminds us, If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

Love completely. Don't leave anyone out.

Loving completely also means that we should go the extra mile in love: it's not enough to forget or even to forgive those who curse you or hate you. You should also bless them; do good to them.

I think the CEB version says it best: Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.

Love is a practice, and love must also be practiced. 

And practice makes perfect. 




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