Frequency needing Consistency

Have you ever wondered why you find yourself eating at McDonalds or Subway on a roadtrip? How about when you’re in a different city for vacation or trip, do you stop in at Chili’s or Applebees before the local restaurant? We’re drawn to these place because of consistency, we know what to expect from these establishments.

Consider the route you take to and from work. Most likely, you take the same route each day. Why? Simply put, you’ve probably found this route to be the most consistent in getting you there on time.

Consistency matters, even for those of us who really like change.

One of the biggest knocks on Christians today is the perception of hypocrisy. At its root, this is related to a lack of consistency in our lives. We declare the life-changing message of Jesus, but yet we don’t seem to be changed. This inconsistency is glaring and creates doubt in the minds of others.

Everyone in my church gave me advice about how to raise my son, but a lot of the time they seemed to be reminding me that I have no husband - and besides, most of them were not following their own advise. It made it hard to care what they said. They were not practicing what they preached. [from UnChristian by David Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons]

Like perfecting a golf swing, making a BigMac, or becoming a musician, we as Christ-followers need consistency in our lives. The consistency that others are looking for is not merely our frequency of attending church, participating in Bible studies, or professing to prayer. The consistency that others are looking for is with regards to our willingness to show compassion, just as we say it’s been shown to us. It’s in our online lives matching our real lives. The consistency that others are needing so the frequency of God’s voice carries through our lives is an intentionality of sameness or character regardless of where we are, who we are with, and what we are doing.

Fine Tuning

• Think of a restaurant that you eat at a lot. Are you inclined to order the same thing each time? Why do you order that same meal or go to that same restaurant? What would you do if you had a “bad encounter” with the meal?
• Malcolm Gladwell points out in his book Outliers that “10,000 hours is the magic number of greatness.” His point is that it take about 10,000 hours of practice for a person to reach greatness or success. How does consistency effect our achievement?
• Considering faith development, how does our consistency affect the perception of hypocrisy? In what areas of life do you need to be more intentional so the frequency of God broadcasts through you?
• Read Colossians 3:17. How can you live this out online and in real life?
• Read Colossians 3:12-15. Who do you know that would reject you if you behaved this way? How would this consistent behavior impact others’ willingness to hear God?