I Promise to Practice What I Preach

For years, I had a little piece of paper attached to my bathroom mirror which said, “I Promise to Practice What I Preach.” Often I would be engaged in some activity when I would see this paper on my bathroom mirror, and then it would cause me to “undo” or “redo” something.

Eugene Peterson is the author of a Bible translation used all over the world. He once heard a lecture by Paul Tournier that changed his life. Peterson thought after hearing Tournier that he lived what he spoke and spoke what he lived. Peterson used the word “congruence” to describe this. Congruence is what some refer to as “practicing what you preach” or “walking your talk.”

I John 2:9 stresses that if any of us “claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister,” then we’re “still in the darkness.” John says in verse 11 that such people “do not know where they’re going.” Verse 10 says the primary method to assess someone’s way of life is whether or not their life is filled with Christ-like love. The Bible views “hatred” and “love” as not referring to an emotional reaction to something or someone, but to an attitude reflected in actions. Jesus teaches us that true love is sacrificial like Christ’s love for us. Christ, who was perfect, went to the cross for all of us who are not perfect.

Incongruence leaves us blind, while aligning ourselves to God keeps us from going blind. When we have a Godly vision, our words and actions line up. When others see our actions, they’ll know whom we are following. Post “I Promise to Practice What I Preach” somewhere so you will see it every day. Let’s all make our words and actions match up!

Prayer – Lord, I want my words and actions to match up. I often fall short, but my desire is to grow more consistent every day. Show me how to live so that others will be drawn to you! Amen.

I John 2:9 – “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.”

By the Rev. Tommy Herndon

Images: Greg Rosenke, Niklas Ohlrogge, Olga Thelavart & Tim Mossfelder, courtesy of Unsplash