Practice What You Preach

"We cannot say one thing and live another."

AT THE BEGINNING of Romans 2 we have the judgment of men held in the light of the judgment of God. Whereas our judgment is full of errors, opinions, and assumptions, God’s judgment is completely fair. He knows all there is to know about each person, all our unspoken words and inner reasoning and motives. Yet His judgment overflows with mercy. We give as we feel people deserve. He gives what we do not deserve – His goodness and mercy.

“Now, we know that when God diagnoses someone as sick, infected with selfishness and dying, his diagnosis is based on the actual condition of the heart and mind of the individual being diagnosed. So when you—a mere human, who sees only the outward appearance—pass judgment on others, condemning them to ruin and eternal loss, you only reveal the lack of love and the persistence of an infected, selfish heart within you.” (Romans 2:2-3, Remedy)

At verses 14 and 15, a statement is made in regard to judgment. It is said sometimes the Gentiles see and know God better, being outside of the Jewish Covenant, than the Jews who are living under the Law. Understanding these remarks were at the start of the church, the assembly of believers in Jesus Christ, we can see and apply them to modern times. First, any judgment of the Jews needs to be silenced. They are God’s Covenant people still. We support Israel or we are in error. Second, there are those who do not attend a church assembly of any denomination and yet they serve God well. Their reasons are between them and God. Those within a church, who are the church, should not judge the heart they cannot see, and in fact, any judgment from man over man in this regard is, again, done in error. Adding in Scripture to your condemnation does not make it not be condemnation. Scripture is misused all the time when we do not walk in the Spirit.

This is a phrase that I cannot avoid but wish to define. To WALK IN THE SPIRIT is to TALK TO THE SPIRIT and to LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT on a minute-by-minute basis. He is not a plug-in we occasionally tap into and get vibes. Just today, I heard a well-meaning believer say the Spirit was going to “leap on” him. The image of this is almost amusing. The Holy Spirit lives in you and is with you all day, every day. Not just to speak now-and-then, but as a relationship and a lifestyle. His heart is to reveal the Truth of the Word and the perfect image of Jesus. He heals the mind, will, and emotions, so that we can live happy, healthy lives. He heals the body of all afflictions BECAUSE we lean upon Him and trust in His love for us. He is our constant Guide, sharing the heart of God with us, and the knowledge and wisdom of God. We do not live like unsaved, disconnected people.

“Indeed, when Gentiles, who have not heard the truth about God’s character, methods and principles as revealed in Scripture, internalize in their characters God’s methods of love, truth and freedom—which they have understood from God’s revelation in nature—they are in harmony with God and his great law of love, even though they have not had the benefit of Scripture,” (Romans 2:14, Remedy)

The end of Romans 2 speaks of our honesty in the pulpit. It gives strong examples of misbehavior, which most pass over since they don’t apply to themselves personally. But there is a truth here that speaks to lighter things. We must practice what we preach, as the trite saying goes. We cannot say one thing and live another. I’m not speaking of everyone as practicing sexual misconduct or stealing money from the offerings. But where our words are concerned, we must pay attention. To talk about people in order to make a sermon point is sin in God’s eyes. We cannot talk about the love of God and the goodness of God and be bitter, critical, or even joking at another’s expense. Love covers sins (1 Peter 4:8), not so people get away with them, but so that they see mercy.

“You who brag about the temple and its service, why do you misrepresent God by failing to practice his methods of love and thus defile the Spirit’s temple?” (Romans 2:23, Remedy)

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

We welcome mercy for ourselves then refuse it to others because of their doctrinal beliefs, their culture and upbringing, their level of living. Giving, even generously, does not hide your motivation nor your behavior where no one can see it. God sees all things. His Spirit cannot be escaped. What we think He’s ignoring, He knows fully. What we meditate on in private will eventually come out of our mouths, and if we refuse to turn loose, repent, and submit to the Lordship of Christ, then God will let us have what we’re unknowingly striving for. I don’t want less than all I can have of Jesus. It’s worth it, so very worth it, to place my will in His hands. I pray He helps me see me, and that’s what it all comes down to. Are you pacing ahead blindly, a beam in your eye, picking at the pole in someone else’s, unaware that’s what you are doing? Revelation of our behavior must be a daily thing and our true heart’s desire.

God can handle the brief fit you pitch when He corrects you. He will easily forgive as deep as it is high. I don’t live paranoid of messing up. I’m myself with Him. But I don’t live narrow-minded either, locked up in protect-me mode.

“How can God do that?” we ask, speaking of some situation we ourselves would have handled differently. My answer is what the apostle Paul says in Romans 2, that God knows each person individually and makes only perfect, fair judgments. He isn’t the angry king in a video game who can’t get out of the tunnel. He knows both ends and sits far above it. Our only true and best response is to live humbly, with a willing heart. You’d be surprised how much joy this brings in the long run, and fruitfulness and favor.

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Luke 6:41)

“Or are you unaware of his rich kindness, forbearance, and patience, that it is God's kindness that is leading you to repent?” (Romans 2:4 ISV)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com