How important is consistency in the Christian life?

Answer  
  

God’s nature is characterized by consistency (Malachi 3:6; Psalm 102:27\). “He never changes or casts a shifting shadow” (James 1:17, NLT; see also Malachi 3:6\). Jesus Christ is “[the same](Jesus-same-yesterday-today-forever.html) yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8\).  
  

Because of God’s consistency, His purposes and plans “stand firm forever” (Psalm 33:11; Job 36:5\). His Word is always true (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29\), trustworthy (Psalm 145:13\), and eternal (Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 119:89\). God’s plan of redemption remains constant throughout the Old and New Testament (Genesis 12:2–3; Hebrews 6:17–18; Galatians 3:8\), and His faithful love endures forever (Psalm 89:2; 136:1–26; 2 Timothy 2:13\).  
  

God is consistent, reliable, and dependable in everything, and He calls His followers to demonstrate consistency in their faith, service, and witness (1 Peter 1:15\). The apostle Paul urged believers to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1\) and “whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27\).  
  

What does consistency in the Christian life look like in the day\-to\-day application? How can it be achieved? In His [Sermon on the Mount](sermon-on-the-mount.html), Jesus taught His followers where to start (Matthew 6:19–34\). A consistent walk of faith flows from a deeply committed love relationship with God. We devote ourselves wholly to Him (verse 24\) and seek His kingdom above everything else (verse 33\). We invest our time, treasure, talents, and energy preparing for eternity in God’s kingdom, where we will receive our heavenly reward (verses 19–21\). We consistently meet with other believers to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:46\), and we dedicate ourselves to the Word of God, to fellowship in the body of Christ, and to prayer (Acts 2:42\).  
  

The consistent believer realizes that life on earth, with all its temptations, afflictions, enticements, and rewards, is only temporary and fleeting (2 Corinthians 4:17–18\). Since every worldly prize and human trial will disappear one day, we focus on the never\-fading promises of heaven and spend our days in holy and godly living (2 Peter 3:11; 2 Corinthians 7:1\).  
  

James taught believers to meet challenges and [tests of faith](testing-of-your-faith.html) with joy and endurance so that they grow and develop into fully mature and complete Christians (James 1:2–18\). Consistency in the face of suffering and trials produces [Christian maturity](spiritual-maturity.html). A mature consistency of doctrine grounds us in the truth. Paul described being “mature in the Lord” as “measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (Ephesians 4:13–15, NLT).  
  

God calls Christians to consistently serve Him by doing good works (Hebrews 13:16; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 2:15, 20–21; 4:19; 3:8–13\). Paul wrote, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58\). He urged the Galatians, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9–10\).  
  

Scripture also calls us to consistency in our testimony of faith (Proverbs 12:17; 14:5; Matthew 5:37; James 5:12; Acts 4:20; 1 Corinthians 9:16\). Paul declared, “We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God\-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you” (2 Corinthians 1:12, NLT). An unswerving, fully committed Christian life is a powerful testimony, earning the respect of believers and nonbelievers alike (1 Thessalonians 4:12; Hebrews 13:7; 1 Timothy 3:7; Colossians 4:5–6\).  
  

