Practice What You Preach

“You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?”  Romans 2:23

King David wrote Psalm 69.  He wrote it to be sung.  He even chose a lovely tune called “Lilies” to go with the lyrics, but verse six always makes me stop singing and start thinking.  “May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the Lord Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel”(Ps 69:6). Or, to say it another way, “May nothing in my life make other Christians cringe.”

You know what it’s like to be sharing with someone about Jesus and have that person immediately start listing the sinful actions of Christians they know or know about. You’ve experienced the awkwardness of explaining that Christ-followers aren’t perfect, just forgiven, while, at the same time, trying not to sound like you’re defending or excusing another’s wrong.  Since none of us like to be in that spot, all of us should try to keep ourselves and others out of it, and the best way to do so is by practicing what we preach.

The Apostle Paul hits home hard with this one.  Seems that some Jewish believers in Rome were quoting the Old Testament law with pride but not piety, and Paul reminds them that their works should match their words.  “You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?  You who preach against stealing, do you steal?  You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?  You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?”(Romans 2:21-23).  If we’re talking the talk but not walking the walk, all we’re doing is making God sound bad.  “As is it written, ‘God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you’”(Romans 2:24). God’s infinite glory can never be diminished, but its reflection in our lives is marred and dulled when we speak God’s truth but fail to show it. 

That was King David’s big fear and the Apostle Paul’s big fuss.  Both knew it was easier to instruct than obey, but both realized the importance of practicing what we preach.  Might not be a bad idea to stop singing sometimes and start thinking. "Do I show what I say?" and "What in my life makes others Christians cringe?"

Don’t just ask yourself the answers.  Ask God.  And let Him help your walk equal your talk.