When We Don’t Practice What We Preach

A Devotional for Kids!

Kids Choice Awards may have a problem with not practicing what they teach. Lately, they used their show to promote thoughts of global warming. Their show was all about recycling and using environmentally friendly products. That’s a great idea and we have no problem with that.

But after the party the thousands of people present were served a delicious meal served on paper plates and plastic cutlery. Again we have no problem with that. It’s what they did with these disposable items that shocked me.

They put them in the garbage which then went to a landfill. What? No recycle bins? They just talked about protecting the environment. They did the opposite of what they taught the kids to do. I can’t believe it! Maybe it’s not true. I read it on the internet and you can’t believe everything on the internet, right?

I am sure that you, like me, know many people who don’t practice what they preach. You and I are often one of those people too. Ouch! We’re too blind to see our blunder just as those people who offend us are also often unaware of their two-faced actions.

Jesus talked about this. “And why worry about a speck in the eye of a brother when you have a board in your own? Should you say, ‘Friend, let me help you get that speck out of your eye,’ when you can’t even see because of the board in your own? Hypocrite! First get rid of the board. Then you can see to help your brother.” Matthew 7:1 to 5 [The Living Bible]

For me, it hurts the most when these people are Christians, teaching me the Bible, but not practicing it. I had a big problem with this when I was in middle school. I really admired my classmates who knew the Bible so well and lead our Bible studies. When I spent time with my heroes in everyday life and discovered that they actually did not live those principles, I became very offended. In fact, I didn’t even want to associate with them.

I forfeited a close relationship with Jesus just because of my judgmental attitude and arrogance. He was there in my life but I didn’t give Him first place for awhile. I thought if people turned out fake, maybe He would too.

It had a big negative influence in my life at the time and kept me from growing spiritually as much as God wanted me to. I’m glad God didn’t give up on me and remained true to His Word and opened my spiritual eyes so I saw my mistake.

Jesus called it ‘hypocrisy’. He said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Luke 12:1 NKJV

We can still learn a lot from people who don’t live what they teach. They often know God’s Word very well and can tell us how to put God first in our lives. We ought to do what they teach but not be two-faced about it.

Jesus, like always, gave us excellent advice about this too. “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.” Matthew 23: 2 and 3 NKJV

The Pharisees were teachers of the Law but they often put their own rules above God’s law so they appeared to be righteous in the people’s eyes, but God saw their hearts. He saw that they only did good things to impress people and their heart was filled with envy, pride, hatred and malice.

So how should we handle the hypocrites in our life?

1. First, find the boulders in our life and deal with them.

2. Pray for those people who are offending us. Ask God to give us a heart of love for them and treat them with love. Do not criticize them or speak against them.

3. Confide in someone we can trust, like our parents, and share our frustration with them. Access the situation so we can learn from it.

4. If we are close to this person or people who are offending us, we may want to confront them in a friendly, kind way. We can tell them that we don’t understand what is going on and ask them if they can enlighten us. They probably have no idea of what they are doing wrong. If they don’t want to talk about it or disagree with us, we should leave it alone and just be their friend anyway. Ask God to work it out.

God is exactly who He says He is. We can trust Him completely. There is absolutely nothing hypocritical about Him.

“Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is not. . . God’s words will always prove true and right, no matter who questions them.” Romans 3:4 [The Living Bible]

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I want to walk with you spiritually this year, inviting you to read the Bible through from cover to cover; from Genesis 1 all the way to Revelation 22:21. If that sounds too difficult for you and your kids, you can join in again after you have taken a break or join us for the days you’re up to it. I promise that you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way if you read it through from cover to cover in a year’s time.

Accept my challenge to read the Bible through in one year chronologically, including the Old and the New Testament.

Today read:
Deuteronomy 32:28-52
Luke 12:35-59
Psalm 78:56-64
Proverbs 12:24

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