Romans 2:17-29

There are many sayings I remember my grandfather reciting to me.  One of them was, "Do as I say, not as I do."  This was usually preached to me when I questioned a command he gave. For instance he might tell me to leave his tools alone.  I would challenge his order by citing he was always in the garage working on something and using those tools, so why couldn't I?

"you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?  You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?" (Romans 2:21-23)
The words from the Scripture reading today find a lesson in walking the walk and talking the talk.  How many of us have felt betrayed when someone we respected and admired because of their walk with Jesus, slipped up and did the opposite of what they taught or preached?

We are all human and we are all sinners, so we must be very careful not to be a stumbling block to others in this fashion. When up against a situation where temptation rears up and attempts to coax us to act opposite our faith it is time to ask, "What would Jesus do?"  Some suggest this saying is trite and over-simplified, but it works for me. I pray my walk and my talk always complement each other.

Read the Romans 2:17-29 text here.  Listen to the text here.