When a friend calls you and asks you for advice, do you find it easy to rattle off some wonderful words of wisdom?  Do you often find you have the answers for everyone’s problems?  Do you ever lecture people about what they need to do to get out of their troubling situations?

My friend, Stephanie, always tells people who ask her for advice, “What would you tell a friend who asked you this question?”  Boy, if that doesn’t make one stop and think about how they are handling their problems, nothing else will.

Why don’t we take our own insightful advice?  Why don’t we practice what we preach? We have such lofty advice for others, why is it so hard to do it ourselves?  So many Christians talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.  Their actions don’t line up with their words.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”  He knew that if he preached one thing to others but lived a different thing in real life he would not be taken seriously.

Now, there is a difference in speaking God’s truth, even though one has not fully manifested that truth in one’s life as of yet.  A preacher I know is famous for saying, “I preached prosperity, even though I had holes in the soles of my shoes, because it is the truth of God”. After preaching it for so long prosperity finally manifested in his life.  There are people who coach others yet they are no where near the level of those they coach.  For example, the world’s best golfer has a coach.  That coach is a good golfer, though not nearly as good as the pro.  However, that coach knows the basics and the techniques that bring success, even if he is not as successful as the one he coaches.  That is not what I am speaking of here.

I am talking about people who rail against pornography yet secretly watch it every day online.  I am talking about people who preach purity yet are engaging in impure acts.  I am talking about people who spout honesty yet cheat on their taxes.  I am talking about people who say they love God yet vote for those who stand for ungodly causes such as abortion and gay marriage.  These are the ones who are disqualified.  God’s Word is clear.  He says He is not mocked, whatsoever a man reaps, that he shall sow. (Galatians 6:7)

The way to obtain the promises of God is to be a doer of the Word.  When others see you walking the walk, they will be drawn to the light of God in you.  They will ask you “What is it about you?” and you will be able to freely answer “It is God!”

When you live your life lined up with the Word, whether fully manifested or not, you are living righteously.  He always honors those who honor Him.

Keep the faith!!