Apprentice

By Pastor Paul Gauche

Today’s Word: ‘Apprentice’… as in apprentices practice good habits.

Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, is over 30 years old, has sold over 40 million copies, and has been translated into over 50 languages. Covey’s brilliance is that it’s not about creating a list of things to do and then checking them off. Instead, everything is connected to values, goals, and the heart so that who we are and what we do is rooted in fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity.

Behind the importance of building good life habits is the concept of apprenticeship. Following Christ is a life of apprenticeship. An apprentice watches what the Teacher does and then imitates the Teacher. At first, it’s awkward, and the work is imperfect. But with enough practice, an apprentice develops skills that become habits. Want to get better at tennis? Practice the basics until they become a habit. Want to play the piano well? Practice the basics until they become a habit. Want to become a more fruitful follower of Jesus? Practice the basics until they become a habit.

All of this raises some good questions: After whom are you patterning your life? How will you become an apprentice of Jesus?

Being apprentices of Jesus means practicing habits that connect us with God and others for spiritual growth. Ultimately, the purpose of every spiritual habit is to transform our lives into the likeness of Christ. Jesus called this “abiding.” Paul refers to it as “walking” with Jesus – being close enough to Jesus so that all that he did rubs off on us. Dwelling in scripture is a good habit. Frequent reading or studying a book of the bible with a small group helps set a healthy habit. Another habit would be committing to reading scripture each day. For example, the Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters. Read one chapter each morning, and by the end of the 31 days, you will have set a habit that you’re more likely to keep. You will also be filled with much wisdom. Wise apprentices practice good habits.

#100days50words

Paul Gauche is the Pastor of Life Transitions at Prince of Peace. His posts are part of his #100days50words project, where he blogs about a different word each week. You can follow his project on Instagram (@pgauche) or on his blog, Thriving Rhythms.