A gazebo for smokers stands outside our local hospital.
Often when I drive past it, I see what appear to be health care professionals puff, puff, puffing away on their cigareets. I have to smile. Surely they know Kools cause cancer. Maybe they don’t believe it. Maybe they think they’ll beat the statistics. I can imagine a doctor exhorting a patient to ditch his butts then stepping outside for a smoke break. Serious disconnect, like an Amish guy telling me I should drive a black buggy then peeling out in a red Mustang.
Like the dad who blusters “Do what I say, not what I do!” A 6-year-old can see through that a mile away.
People love it when Christians don’t live gospel-shaped lives. They love it when Christians talk about integrity, then stretch out their breaks at work. They’re glad when believers laugh at a dirty joke or join in slander. They’re happy when Christians talk about love then mock homosexuals. They love it because that gives them an excuse – Christianity must not be true if it doesn’t change lives. It’s not true if it doesn’t make people humble, honest or pure. People love it when a pastor falls because if a leader doesn’t practice what he preaches it shows he doesn’t really believe it.
In 1 Timothy 4:16 Paul says, “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.” Be sure you’re holding to the gospel and that the gospel is shaping your life. Practice what you preach, because the doctrine you profess and the life you lead affects others.
In the second half of v16 Paul tells Timothy he must persist in ensuring his life and belief match up “for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
As Timothy persisted in preaching the gospel and applying it to his life, the combination of his words and life would influence many. I want to live the gospel I preach. Let’s all seek the grace of the Lord to stay in sync.
photo by Gullig
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post today..as usual! I agree, the world looks at us more than we think. I come in contact with people at my job all the time who have a story about another “christian” that says one thing yet does something totally opposite of what they say they believe. I truly want my life to be a witness for Christ, I don’t want to be another one of those “christians” My prayer is that I am continually affected by the gospel and that while I’m yet a terrible sinner, I’m also an adopted child of the Father who loves me even if my behavior contradicts what I believe.
Thanks for such a great reminder that while we have a long way to go God is with us every step of the way.
Blessings
Ron Reffett
Hi Ron,
Thanks for your comments – and adding in that when we fail, we’re still accepted by God through Christ, for I sure have a long way to go as well.
It is so important that we live a Christ driven life.As I live in India I am surrounded by a Hindu friends almost all the time and they have a very different picture of “Christians” as they usually generalize them under “Catholics”. So I have to always scrutinize my life every day, keeping in mind that I need to portray Christ in everything I do.
Thanks again for the reminder to live Godly lives
Hi Caroline,
I bet you are a great witness to your Hindu friends. It must be very challenging – isn’t it good to know it’s only by the power of the Holy Spirit we can portray Christ in our lives? Thanks for your comments!
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