Do What I Say and Do What I Do

I would be willing to bet that most of us as children or young adults heard the saying, “Do what I say, not what I do.”  The first time I remember hearing this saying I was probably 7 and my Aunt said it to me. Can’t remember why, but I remember the saying stuck with me. I was reading my weekly bible study and it asked, “Do you put into action what you have studied?” The following bible verse was part of the study.

James 1:22-25 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,  and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.”

To me, this says that God is telling us, “Do what I say AND do what I do”. Geez.That’s totally different from something I had believed all my life. I have been guilty of telling my own children, Do what I say, not what I do. I am far from perfect and now am doing something I don’t want them to do, but I am willing to do it myself…?? Maybe it's the harping about the dirty laundry pile in the teenagers room knowing full well I have a similar pile in my own room. 

See, God makes it so much easier for His children. He doesn’t send mixed signals. He states clearly what to do. God doesn’t make the message confusing. He is clear in His word.