It’s a practice
When you think of the word practice, can’t you hear Allen Iverson’s rant, “Practice, we are talking about practice.”
The word gets a bad rap. I think of all the times my mother would tell me, “Go practice your piano.” I would rather go to the dentist.
Practice – to carry out or perform a skill habitually to perfect that skill.
”‘Now this day shall be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance.“
Exodus 12:14 NASB2020
Every year, year after year, generation after generation, the children of Israel would PRACTICE the feasts. No matter where they lived in Israel they would make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate each custom of the feasts. Jewish children knew what the bitter herbs represented, that they ate unleavened bread because they didn’t have time to let the bread rise when they escaped out of Egypt.
As we prepare for Resurrection Day 2024 let’s PRACTICE remembering.
Over 2000 years ago around 33AD Jesus told His disciples, “It is time.” They were about to make a journey into the lion’s den. This Passover all the city would know Jesus was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast. It was the PRACTICE of their Jewish religion. The jealousy of the Jewish religious leaders had risen to a frenzy.
”Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council meeting, and they were saying, “What are we doing in regard to the fact that this Man is performing many signs? If we let Him go on like this, all the people will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take over both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor are you taking into account that it is in your best interest that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish instead.” Now he did not say this on his own, but as he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation; and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.“
John 11:47-53 NASB2020
Jesus knew what was in their hearts, but He would not let this dissuade Him from PRACTICING the Passover feast with His disciples. So they joined in the nationwide pilgramage to Jerusalem singing the Pilgrims Psalms, “The Songs of Ascent.”
”I will raise my eyes to the mountains; From where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who watches over you will not slumber. Behold, He who watches over Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. ¶The Lord is your protector; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not beat down on you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time and forever.“
Psalms 121:1-8 NASB2020
The hills and valleys of Israel rang as these PSALMS echoed through the countryside and Jesus would have joined in because it was a PRACTICE – a customary, habitual procedure or way of doing something. From His childhood following Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem Jesus would have sung these songs with friends and family as they journeyed from Nazareth to Jerusalem. It is how they prepared their heart to celebrate Adonai.
Let’s PRACTICE lifting our eyes remembering Adonai who created heaven and earth. He watches over us.
Practice makes perfect. If I’ve heard that once I’ve heard it a thousand times. But it is the truth , show me any great athlete and the one common factor they all have is they were partitioners of practice and that’s what set them apart. So we need to work at being perfect Christian’s and we know we will never reach that plateau but the only way to try is to practice.