Follow my Lead

My grandpa used to jokingly tell us to, 'do as I say, not as I do'. I wonder if he knew this teaching was scriptural.  Jesus pointed to the Pharisees and shared; "The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God's Law. You won't go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don't live it. They don't take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It's all spit-and-polish veneer. (Matthew 23:2-3 MSG)

We are to lead by example and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Our walk must match our talk. As sinners, we will struggle with this, feeling unworthy - which we are. But with practice and faithful study of God's Word, we will be disciples that others will turn to and learn from.

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. (Matthew 13:4-6)

Jesus taught using stories. The Matthew text for today is about the farmer sowing seed on the different types of terrain and the pursuant growth or lack of. We also can teach others by our story. Often, it is our own story which will impact others. We need to get accustomed to telling the story that God has been preparing. Our joys and our sorrows are all part of a Disciples' story/testimony.

Matthew 13:1-6