You’ve heard it before and likely will roll your eyes when you read it.

“Practice makes perfect.”

“Cliche!” you say. You’re about to move onto to something more profitable. But, before you do, remember, cliches are phrases of wisdom so good that people have repeated them ad nauseam until their initial power is lost by familiarity. You may have heard it before, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t treasure to be found.

What if this little cliche is actually the only way you can experience a truly, joyful Christian life? You may think, “How can this be? The gospel isn’t about earning, but grace!”

Well, not really.

Isn’t Grace Opposed to Effort?

Yes, the Bible is against the notion of earning one’s salvation. We are saved by grace in Christ through faith. It is glorious. It is true. But, that doesn’t mean it is against effort. Consider these passages:

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Strive to enter through the narrow door. Luke 13:24

Strive… for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue. 2 Peter 1:5

Do you see it? Far from being against effort, Christians are commanded toward it.

How do we square this with the gospel? Easy. We are saved by grace unto a life of grace-fueled effort to become more like Jesus. Jesus has saved us fully from sin’s penalty and power by his work on the cross and in the tomb so we may progressively enjoy that beautiful salvation by Spirit-empowered, Scripture guided effort. After all, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (fully justified from all sin) for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). Christians are not saved by good works – or godly effort – but for good works. Jesus has earned our salvation and gifts us the privilege to more deeply experience and enjoy it with increasing degree day by day by our grace-fueled effort. Grace is against earning, not effort.

Christ-Likeness Only Comes With Spirit-Empowered Effort

This brings us to our cliche. We can only become more like Jesus by practice; intentionally choosing to act like Him in the power of the Spirit. Our practice is not to earn something nor is it by our own power. The Holy Spirit works to grow in like Christ through our efforts. As John Owen said:

The Holy Spirit so works in us that He works by us; His assistance is not a force upon us, but a help to us, whereby we are made able to will and to do that which is spiritually good. Without Him we can do nothing, but with Him we must do something.

God’s Holy Spirit works for us, in us, and through us, but never without us. Our effort is necessary if we want to grow up in the riches of God’s grace. Practice, therefore, is necessary to grow like Jesus. Our justification required Jesus’ gracious blood. Our sanctification requires our grace-fueled sweat.

How Are You Practicing to Become Perfect Like Jesus?

If you are a Christian, you want to become like Jesus. But, what are you doing to make that happen? You’ll never become a good athlete without training. You’ll never become a good cook without getting in the kitchen. You’ll never become a proficient artist without putting brush to canvas. In the same way, you will never become like Jesus without practice.

What kind of intentional efforts are you making to become the kind of person that looks like Jesus?

Let’s make it practical:

Do you want to grow in love? Serve others selflessly, even when it’s inconvenient. Be the dad that stays up late to talk through an emotional day with your child despite your exhaustion.

Do you want to grow in joy? Give thanks each time you enjoy some good, no matter how small. Be the employee starts the workday by listing three things you’re grateful for, even amid stress.

Do you want to grow in peace? See any feeling of anxiety as a call to pray and more deeply trust in God’s control. Be the husband prays about a financial setback instead of snapping at his spouse.

Do you want to grow in patience? Wait without complaining. Embrace delays or interruptions as a gift from God to grow. Be the church member who smiles and waits quietly and cheerfully when a service runs longer than expected.

Do you want to grow in kindness? Speak gentle words, especially to the difficult. Be the wife who offers a calm and controlled response to your spouse’s frustration instead retaliating.

Do you want to grow in goodness? Act with integrity in every small moment, choosing what’s right over what’s easy. Be the wife who admits a mistake to her rather than covering it up, justifying it, or recalling his shortcomings.

Do you want to grow in faithfulness? Keep promises, honoring God in small things. Be the Christian who consistently attends church on Sundays to be a blessing to your spiritual family, even when tired or other opportunities arise.

Do you want to grow in gentleness? Respond calmly, even under provocation. Be the mom who responds to your kids’ immaturity, chaos, and constant neediness with controlled tenderness instead of yelling, demeaning, and threatening.

Do you want to grow in self-control? Say no to small, unnecessary impulses each hour, seeking God’s strength to focus on what’s needed instead of what’s wanted. The more you do it in small ways, the stronger you’ll be to practice it in big ways. Be someone who chooses not opt for regularly door-dashing, eating out, or racking up credit card debt because it is immediately pleasurable. Instead be the person who makes the meal, goes to the grocery store yourself, and doesn’t binge watch the next season. Don’t be controlled by your impulses to make life easy, but control your impulses to make life Christ-like.

Beloved, no one drifts into holiness. It’s only obtained through intentionally swimming toward Christ in every day action. You will never act like Jesus in the important moments of your future if you don’t practice being like Jesus in the unimportant moments of your present.

If you’ve been saved by Christ, then act like Christ so become like Christ. Practice makes perfect. This is the way.