Example

I have watched a lot of people that were older than me. I was trying to figure out something about life and relationships. I saw these people as mentors and leaders in my life. My parents and grandparents were among my first mentors as I watched them carefully. I remember looking up to people in elementary school and high school. Some of those mentors’ lives didn’t turn out so well. When I went to college, I was introduced to a whole new set of mentors and friends. Life was a bit more challenging as I was moving from being a kid to an adult. I had more personal responsibility for things that happened to me and around me. I am super thankful for my college friends and mentors because there was a different level of maturity and counsel.

Christ-like examples aren’t as plentiful as they should be. It’s not rocket science to follow Jesus, but it is a bit counter-cultural.  Jesus called out some of the religious leaders who taught the law but didn’t follow what they were teaching. Check this out….

¹Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. (Matthew 23:1-4 NLT)

“Do as I say, not what I do!”

“What you’re doing speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you are saying”

If there is a conflict in what I’m saying versus what I’m doing, my actions will ALWAYS drown out my words.  I want to simply be a follower of Jesus who lives out my faith. I don’t want to be someone who “talks a good game” and then does something else. I want my life to be an example of a Christ follower. I want the things I teach to be reflected clearly in how I live my life.  I am certainly not perfect. I’m also better in some seasons of life than others.  I want there to be alignment between the things I say and the way I live my life. I don’t want to be judgmental and harsh with truth. I want the truth that comes from my mouth to be gentle and drenched in grace.

Pressing On!

Dwayne