Practice What You Preach

It's so easy to say that you're a Christian. It's simple to accept Christ into your life in return for a home in heaven when your time on Earth is over. But being a Christian and actually living life as a Christian are two completely different things. 

Case One: A teenage boy is invited to attend a church service. He knows God and feels Gods presence in his life. But after the church service is over, he goes back to his life. Listening to music with negative meanings and lyrics in them. He dresses in inappropriate clothing and wears shirts with racial comments on them, or advertises alcohol or drugs. He and his friends make fun of other students and laugh at people who have disabilities. He says he reads his bible, but knows that it has sat on his desk for months without being opened. He wonders why he can't feel God outside of church and wonders why his life gets harder and harder and seems like there is no way out of his problems.


Case Two: A teenage boy is invited to attend a church service. He knows God and feels Gods presence in his life. But after the church service is over, he goes back to his life. He takes time to pray, and decides right then to make a change in his life. He begins listening to Christian music and positive music, music that lifts him up and makes him feel happy. He dresses in modest clothing that make him look mature. He talks about his faith and about his love for Jesus with his friends and invites them to his youth group. He reads his bible every night before bed and prays and reflects on his day. He feels God no matter where he is, and he's quick to ask God for help with his problems. 


These are two very realistic scenarios. You say one thing, and you practice another thing. You live two different lives. James 1:22-25 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." 


Learn to practice what you preach. God honors those who honor him and his holy name. Matthew 10:32 tells us, "Deny me before men and I will deny you before my father in heaven." Don't subject yourself to that...


God Bless,
Carlie