PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH!

Matthew 23:2-5 TLB

"You would think these Jewish leaders and these Pharisees were Moses, the way they keep making up so many laws! [3] And of course you should obey their every whim! It may be all right to do what they say, but above anything else, don't follow their example. For they don't do what they tell you to do. [4] They load you with impossible demands that they themselves don't even try to keep. [5] "Everything they do is done for show. They act holy by wearing on their arms little prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and by lengthening the memorial fringes of their robes.

 

Our words should match our actions! In other words, practice what you preach! The Bible is full of verses about practising what you preach. Whether it’s trying harder to be a better Christian, being truthful and honest in your business dealings, or being helpful and giving to others with what you have, it all boils down to something we’ve all probably heard before: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, according to Matthew 7:12. 

We’ve all probably heard or been told to practise what we preach, but now we live in a society that doesn’t express this. Even Christians seem to be on the opposite spectrum, and there may be several reasons why Christians do not practice what they preach, or at least appear to others not to be practising what they preach. 

Many people, including leaders in every sector, tell others what to do but don’t do what they tell them to do—they certainly aren’t practising what they preach. Don’t just say the right things—live them out! People trust and respect you more when you do what you say. 

First, we must remember that not all who call themselves Christians are true believers and Christ-followers. As Jesus says in Matthew 7:22, there will be false believers in the world whose aim is to cripple the gospel of the cross and the testimony of Christians so that our witness to the world would be compromised. 

We say one thing but mean another. We expect from people what we don’t want to give. People want us to call, check on, and love them, but will not do it for anyone. We all mouth Matthew 22:39, to love everyone, but do we really love? 

Jesus’ teaching about the Pharisees in verses 1-3 says, “So observe and practice all they tell you; but do not do what they do, for they preach but do not practice.” Just like today, the Pharisees told people to obey God’s laws, but they didn’t always obey those laws themselves. Jesus wanted His followers not just to say the right things but to live them out—to let their actions match their words. 

Love is a verb, an action word, and if we love people, we would always readily express and exhibit Matthew 7:12, the golden rule of life: do to others what you would have them do to you. 

How many times have you gone out of your way to do something, even sacrificially for someone, and they couldn’t even show appreciation—or maybe it was you who didn’t? 

Christians often preach a message that is impossible to live up to but expect those around them to meet their expectations when they themselves don’t live up to those standards. 

But according to James 1:22, we must put into action what we say verbally. 

However, our failure to live up to God’s perfect standard does not change the truth that it is to be our goal and message. 

Romans 2:20-22 is one we all need to take a deeper look at and understand exactly what the Christian life entails. As we grow and mature in faith, our lives should reflect the truths that we profess to believe more and more. 

Practice what you preach! Care for people if you want them to care for you! Call people if you want them to call you! Visit people if you want people to visit you! 

It may not always be the people we mingle with that do for us what we’ve done for them, but remember according to Galatians 6:7, whatever we sow is what we reap! 

To practice what we preach is a biblical concept to be practised in all areas of life—to live and act honourably, so that when we speak against evildoers, they may see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation, according to 1 Peter 2:12. Jesus teaches us to be honest and real—to do what we say and teach others to do! Practice what you preach! 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS 

- How often do you honestly examine if your actions match your words? 

- Are there areas in your life where you find it difficult to practice what you preach? Why? 

- How can you better demonstrate your faith through actions, not just words? 

- What changes can you make today to better live out the truth you teach? 

PRAYER: Father, may I always line my words with matching actions and not be a hypocrite who says but doesn’t do, in Jesus’ name, amen. 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pJbbHXhDJhqHKEummstTp?si=5jo6R5u7TM2zozlXTg8_ew

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