Articles
Practice What He Preaches
There is no right way to do a wrong thing." Jim Dodson
This saying is very true, whether you are talking about Nadab and Abihu offering strange fire to God that we read about in Leviticus 10, which resulted in their instant death, or any of a number of things Jesus had in mind when He said, "Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" (Matt 7:22-23)
As Jesus continued his thought in Matthew 7, He says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matt 7:24-27)
Jesus wants us to practice what He preaches. He is serious about us knowing His will, so that we can do it “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matt 7:21) Just how serious is He? Ponder what that verse very plainly says: Those who do NOT do the will of God will NOT enter the kingdom of heaven!
Just a few verses before all of these words of Christ, He points out something we've all read, we all know, yet we all struggle with wanting to be like everybody else, do what everybody else is doing, and in some cases, perhaps believe what they believe. Jesus says that sort of thinking will lead us astray. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.".
Today, are you on that narrow road, headed to the narrow gate, or has Satan talked you into following the crowd that is on the wide road and headed to the wide gate, that Jesus says plainly leads to destruction, eternal destruction? Jesus says those sent by Satan "come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." (Matt 7:15) What they do and teach may seem OK, but in the end, it is everything but!
If you need some encouragement to get back where you need to be, Jesus in this same section of teaching says He and the Father are there to help us, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matt 7:7-8) Take some time, talk to Him, and ask for help. We are here to help as well. Please let us know if we can. 325-573-0154
