Making a good faith effort

“She hath done what she could” (Mark 14:8).

These days, my walking routine–long established but constantly taking different shapes–consists of two miles just before sunup.  That requires some real self-discipline on these muggy summer mornings in the sultry South.

On days when, like today, the temperature at 6 am was in the low 80s and the humidity the high 80s, I cut myself a little slack.  I anticipate being miserable out there, but know how critical exercise is for this 75-year-old body. So, even though I make myself get outside, I decide that “this morning I’m giving myself permission to make a good faith effort.”

I can cut the walk short if I choose.

In so doing, I’m making a statement to myself only that by being out here I’m still walking and still committed to taking care of this body.  It means I’m bringing my body under subjection, as Paul puts it.  And I’m being victorious.

It’s important not to lose the momentum of daily exercise if I would serve God for years to come (if He so wills).

The simple fact is anyone can make himself/herself walk when the temperature is 68 degrees and the humidity is 50 percent.  On those mornings, I could walk forever.  I think, “All year long, I live in anticipation of such days.”

But to walk at the hottest time of the year takes strength.  And discipline.

Often, I discover, once I begin walking, it’s not so bad out here, and I end up doing the full course.

Making a good faith effort means even if I cannot do a thing perfectly, I’m going to make a good stab at it.

That pertains to the Christian life.

It applies to praying, to studying my Bible, to a thousand other aspects of our lives.

My wife and I used to have a good-natured argument over whose philosophy was correct. She would say, “If a thing is worth doing, it’s worth doing perfectly,” whereas my thought was, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly.”

Both are right, of course.  The problem is we can do so few things perfectly.

I used to tell secretaries, “You cannot do everything perfectly. I’m aware of this. But you can type a perfect letter. And that’s what I’m asking for.”

Good music, they say, is music written better than it can be played.

I suspect the Christian life is like that.  It’s written perfectly. “Be ye perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect,” Jesus said (Matthew 5:48).  That is always the goal.

The problem is I am a seriously flawed individual. And I did not become perfect after the Lord saved me, either.  (Moses told the Lord he was timid and tongue-tied, slow of speech and slow of tongue.  He added, “And I haven’t become eloquent since You started speaking to me, either!” Exodus 4:10.  I identify with that.)

Those who teach and preach a sinless perfectionism as attainable in this life will do one of two things:  either abandon that doctrine as unrealistic or make such concessions to their humanity as to strip the doctrine of its meaning.

“He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust” (Psalm 103:14).

Those who sit in church waiting to make a profession of faith in Jesus until they can do it perfectly will still be sitting there when the angel of death arrives to gather them home.

Those who will not start a diet or begin to tithe or to teach a Sunday School class until they can do it flawlessly and successfully will never start.

Make a good faith effort.

Just get up, put one foot in front of the other, and give it a shot.  Don’t let it be said you didn’t care enough to even try.

It’s amazing how tiny steps encourage us to take bigger ones.

And just as amazing how we rationalize against taking those little steps.

“I cannot lend you my lawn mower,” said the man, “because my wife is in the kitchen making a cake.”

“What does your wife making a cake have to do with your lending me your lawn mower?” said his neighbor.

“Not a thing,” he said. “But when you don’t want to lend your mower, one excuse is as good as another.”

Make no excuses. Get up and start today, even if you’re taking baby steps at first.

3 thoughts on “Making a good faith effort

  1. Making a good effort even though it may not be perfect is my theme. I may not bake the best or prettiest cake, but I make a good cake; I do yard work even though a lawn service could do a better job, etc. To brighten the corner where you are is so very important. Often people give up without trying because they think the only way to do something is perfection.

  2. I posted a comment a couple of years ago, my first and only comment until now, and you said you would pray for me. You didn’t know me from Adam but that you cared meant so much. God answered your prayers and now I pray for you 🙂 I just wanted to tell you because you don’t always get to know the impact of all the things you do. God bless always. See you in heaven!
    Jayne

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