Do As I Say, Not As I Do! Uh, what?

TODAY’S READING: Matthew 23; Matthew 24; Matthew 25

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 23:1-4

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:  ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.  So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.  They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.’”

OBSERVATION:

I can see Jesus’ heart for a consistent life, and for truth.  It is funny how we sometimes let the inconsistency between somebody’s words & works determine how we will respond to what’s true and right.  For example, “Such & such preacher misused church funds, I’m not going to tithe anymore.”  While the “do as I say, not as I do” mentality is extremely flawed, we cannot throw out godly wisdom because of the ungodly behavior of the messenger.

We can’t throw out the “baby” with the bath-water when it comes to living truth that will benefit our spiritual lives.

APPLICATION:

People have a tendency to accept or dismiss truth and people together.  It takes humility to accept truth from a person that has lost your respect.  Personally I have to work hard at a consistent life - be what I teach.  I can speak all the truth in the world but I will only reproduce what I am.

PRAYER:

Father thanks for your grace.  Help me to incarnate the message that I preach.  Help me to reproduce the life and goodness of Christ in my family and church.  Help my life to be consistent with my message.  In Jesus name - AMEN!