Responding Out Of Habit

In martial arts such as Karate, students practice a particular defense repeatedly until it becomes a habitual response they don’t even have to think about.  As a result, they are able to respond very quickly to situations.   Unfortunately that response is not always appropriate, with the result that the martial artist may unintentionally injure someone who unknowingly triggers their response.  The same thing happens with other habits as well.  when a certain situation arises, we automatically revert to what we have practiced without thinking about it. 

When we become a Christian, God changes the underlying attitude that originally caused the response.  Unfortunately, because we have practiced those things so long we automatically do them even before we give it a thought.  Even though God gives us a new attitude, and changes our desires, it can be difficult to break those old habits.  Jacob demonstrated this in Genesis 33:12-17, when Esau offered to provide escort. 

“And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.

And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.  Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.   

And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me.

And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.  So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.”

When he had been trying to get beyond Laban’s reach, Jacob had been unconcerned about how hard it would be on the young, but he used such concerns for an excuse to reject Esau’s escort.  Jacob had developed such a habitual attitude of distrust and deceit that he was afraid to believe Esau, so he lied to him, telling him the young couldn’t stand being rushed, and promising to come along at his own pace.  As soon as Esau was out of sight, he turned west into Canaan, rather than continuing south into Edom. 

Many times we think that if a person has truly been saved, certain behaviors ought to instantly disappear and become upset if they do not.   Jesus addressed this issue in Luke 17:3-4.  “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”  f the person sincerely admits he was wrong and makes an effort to change he is to be forgiven even though he repeats the sin over and over, even the same day.  If he is sincere, eventually the habit will begin to change. 

However, if the person refuses to admit they were wrong or make any changes, it is prossible they have not been saved and must be treated accordingly, as Jesus explained in Matthew 18:15-17.  “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.   But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.”  If a person will not admit they are wrong or agree to change, their attitude probably has not been changed by God.