Many kids love sports and dream of being professional athletes someday. Now, most parents know that isn’t highly probable – though they do often hope that with enough talent, it might at least help pay for college. Yet do you know how many high school student athletes receive athletic scholarships? Less than 2%. There are lots of talented players who never see a dime for their labors. It’s important to know that going into it. Simply being gifted isn’t enough. Those gifts must be thoroughly, constantly developed in order to progress.
The same is true for your Christian faith. The young evangelist Timothy was gifted. He was an exemplary Christian, with talents for Scripture reading, encouragement, and teaching that good mentors developed (cf. 1 Tim. 4:11-14). Yet he couldn’t take any of that for granted. The Apostle Paul coached him, “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (1 Tim. 4:15 ESV). Timothy was already a role model and teacher – and he could still do better.
For the athlete, you never get to stop training, dieting, and practicing if you want to remain elite. In fact, as time goes on and age takes its toll, those activities – wisely adapted to your current situation – become even more important. When youthful energy, flexibility, or metabolism start to wane, simply staying at your current level takes effort, much less continuing to improve.
Our call as Christians is to continually improve. We are challenged – as individual disciples and as a congregation – to demonstrate progress. And specifically, progress against ourselves. Over time, we move forward from where we were. Our past efforts, training, and victories provide a strong base on which we build for the future. We grow, and in a way so undeniably real others can see it.
Are we showing progress? God tells us how to. You practice your faith: more than just a set of beliefs you hold or values you ascribe to, you live it out. You try new exercises and learn new skills. You push yourself outside of your comfort zone and aim for new personal records.
You immerse yourself in it, seeking out resources and role models that move you forward. You put such a high priority on spiritual progression that you sacrifice things that get in the way, rearranging your life however is needed to help you grow.
With that kind of commitment, there will be no question about your progress: everyone will see it.