Consistency is difficult. Whether you are talking about drawing a straight line, making your bed in the morning, or calling your mom, keeping up with them over and over again can be a difficult task. This is especially true when it comes to our daily walk as Christians.
We have good days, and we have bad days, don’t we? Sometimes it’s really easy to think about spiritual things and other times it isn’t. There is a perfect place to go in scripture to help us be consistent in our Christianity: Romans 12.
We need to recognize that the scriptures demand consistency. In verses 10 through 13, Paul tells us, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” The words I’ve highlighted all describe behaviors that remain the same over time. If we have been “transformed by the renewing of our minds” as described earlier (v. 2), then we can’t be Christians some of the time and like the world the rest. If we master these behaviors, then we can be sure of our consistency.
First, we must not be lagging in diligence. To lag means to be lazy or holding back, and diligence is eagerness. So, to be lagging in diligence would mean to be unwilling or to be half-hearted in doing good. Christianity requires a love for the work. If we are not actively working to keep our interest in the church, then we will certainly miss opportunities to be useful to God. Are you checking the upcoming activities to see where you can be useful?
Second, we must be patient in tribulation. This means that you endure or stick around when things get difficult. Patience is something we can easily lose. All sorts of things can cause us distress or hurt our morale. We may be overworked, we may suffer ridicule, or we may suffer loss. No matter what comes about, we must be committed to doing good. Have you backed away from anything at church because of life’s circumstances or burnout?
Last, we must always continue steadfastly in prayer. Whenever we are struggling, we should immediately ask ourselves, “Am I praying enough?” Steadfast means to be devoted to something. Prayer needs to be a priority for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “Pray without ceasing.” It must be a daily, continuous habit. If we neglect prayer, we will certainly stumble. Are you praying for opportunities to work for the Lord?
Let’s be Christians consistently!