Hitching A Ride!

A few nights ago my wife picked up a hitchhiker when heading home from work. Actually she did not realize she had done so until she was already in the house. You see, the hitchhiker was a small slug that hitched a ride on top of her shoe as she had walked through the grass. Such was not what she wanted to carry with her.

HABITS have a similar manner of hitching a ride in our life. Have we not ever noticed we had a HABIT of some kind and wondered when we had picked it up? HABITS are developed gradually and once they become a HABIT they are not easy to shake. However, just as this is true with regard to bad HABITS, it is also the case with those that are good. By continually practicing that which is good and ought to be done, gradually such can become the HABIT of our life. Even when we are not thinking about them, they naturally remain a part of us.

The Hebrew writer exhorted . . .
"(24) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (25) not neglecting to meet together, AS IS THE HABIT OF SOME, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." ( Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

The Hebrew writer was not addressing those who may have missed an assembling of believers from time to time, though such could gradually become the HABIT. He was addressing those who already had the HABIT. It was their manner of life. This was not a good HABIT because "neglecting to meet together" made it impossible to encourage others toward greater love and good works and to be encouraged in the same.

The Greek word translated "HABIT" is "ethos" and refers to a custom, habit, or manner. [source: W.E. Vines' Expository Dictionary of N. T. Words] In the English language we have a word that comes directly from this Greek word. In fact, the English letters correlate exactly with those of the Greek. The English word is "ethos", which is defined as "distinguishing character, tone, or guiding beliefs." [source: Merriam Webster's Dictionary]

It is the good and godly HABITS we need to allow to hitch a ride in our life. By consciously practicing the right things they will gradually become the HABIT, custom, and manner of daily living.

Earlier the Hebrew writer exhorted some who were apparently not growing, saying . . .
"(12) For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, (13) for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. (14) But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained BY CONSTANT PRACTICE TO DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL." ( Hebrews 5:12-14 ESV)

Yes, "constant practice". That is what we need with regard to good practices. Even Jesus left us with a model of exemplifying a good HABIT in which His disciples followed.

We read. . .
"(39) And he came out and went, AS WAS HIS CUSTOM, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him." ( Luke 22:39 ESV)

Here Luke also used the Greek word "ethos" that has been translated "custom". It was our Lord's HABIT or regular practice to get off away from the crowds and spend some time in prayer. We would do well to develop this HABIT also. With the HABITS of regular prayer and HABITUAL fellowship with other Christians we will lay the groundwork for the continuing development of other GOOD HABITS as well. May we shake off the bad as we practice what will accompany a healthy spiritual life.

Have a great day EXEMPLIFYING GODLY ETHOS IN OUR DAILY WALK!
Carl

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