Practice what you preach

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

 

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me,
or seen in me — put it into practice (Phil. 4:9 NIV).

 

Two bachelor brothers named Smythe lived together in London. Both of them were doctors — one was a doctor of medicine and the other a doctor of theology. They hired a housekeeper to look after their domestic needs.

 

One day, a visitor rang the doorbell. When the housekeeper answered, the visitor said, "I would like to see Doctor Smythe, please." After a moment of hesitation, the housekeeper said, "Which Doctor Smythe would you see, the one who preaches or the one who practices?"

 

Of course, there isn't any question that the one who preaches had also better be the one who practices. "Physician, heal thyself" is directed as much — or perhaps even moreso — to the doctor of theology as to the doctor of medicine. It is possible for a doctor to heal someone else of the same disease that is killing him. But when a man preaches the gospel he had better be living according to the doctrine he preaches.

 

Much damage has been done to the kingdom of God by those who have not practiced what they preached. Paul, the apostle-preacher, practiced his messages in daily life until he could challenge his converts to live as he did! How does your life measure up to your beliefs?

 

Life response: I will make sure my "practice" matches, or exceeds, my "preaching."