Tag Archives: practice what you preach

Turning Your Attention Toward Love and Service

Posted on July 2, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Every human being experiences peaks and valleys in life. Depending upon your level of inspiration and motivation, you might have your mind set on higher aspirations and goals to achieve. As Jesus prepares his disciples for life on earth following his death, resurrection and ascension into heaven, He turns his attention toward love and service.

When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. 9 I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [[a]continue in His love with Me]. 10 If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love. 11 I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing, John 15:8-11.

Based upon the accounts of four first century historians, Jesus was a master storyteller, painting a vivid picture in the minds of his audience. This was accomplished by using analogies and parables that common folk could understand. As Jesus talks to his disciples in the passage above, his goal is to turn their attention toward loving and serving one another in His absence.

This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends, John 15:12-13.

Jesus doesn’t use empty words like modern leaders who follow the motto, “do what I say, not as I do.” Jesus practiced what he preached as He was about to lay down His own life for His friends on Good Friday. Jesus gave many hints to His fate such as John 14:1-4. Nonetheless, 3 days later Jesus conquered death on Easter Sunday, leaving His disciples with one final plea: turn your attention toward love and service, 1 John 4:18-21.

by Jay Mankus

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Under the Influence of Hypocrisy

Posted on September 24, 2019 by expressyourself4him

The definition of under the influence refers to the capacity or power of a substance to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, and language of individuals. This phrase is often used in the context of driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Terms such as drunk, inebriated, intoxicated and tipsy are synonyms to describe someone who is under the influence of a foreign substance. If souls make a conscious decision to participate in this type of behavior, are there other spiritual forces that affect, burden or control minds?

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye, Matthew 7:5.

If you are like me, you probably know someone who lives by the motto, “do what I say, not as I do.” The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not reflect is hypocrisy. These type of individuals can be annoying, ruining a school or work setting. However, what if you reach a point in your own life where you possess good intentions, but you never carry out your convictions. Unfortunately, I find myself in this very predicament, under the influence of hypocrisy. I have become that which I despise.

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen, 1 John 4:20.

One of Jesus’ disciples brings up a similar issue which began to occur during the first century. As new converts dedicated their lives from their past, sinful thoughts remained. Thus, while people could say they love God, many still harbored hate within their hearts, unable to forgive some people. In the initial portion of his Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, Jesus gives tangible examples of how to live out the 10 Commandments. During a debate with religious leaders, Jesus simplified these rules into 2 simple goals, love God and love your neighbor as yourself, Matthew 22:37-40. This is the only way I know to be set free from being under the influence of hypocrisy. If you still can’t break free, rely on prayer to rescue your soul.

by Jay Mankus

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I Don’t Know How He Does It

Posted on December 3, 2017 by expressyourself4him

The thought of patience is foreign to me.  I have a short fuse, easily enraged by obstacles that get in my way, slow me down or become a burden to me in any manner.  So when I read the Bible, the command to love, be patient and kind seems impossible to achieve.  The idea of forgiving and loving enemies is hard to comprehend.  Nonetheless, when religious leaders and the people who followed Jesus turned on him, shouting for death by crucifixion, this Man practiced what He preached.  Moments from death, Jesus cried out to his heavenly father, “forgive them for they know not what they do.”  I don’t know how He did this?

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

The context of the passage above shines light on the nature of God.  Anyone can talk a good game, pretend to be good person or use money to influence the general public.  However, if you don’t display love, all of your gifts and talents are meaningless.  The apostle Paul uses the analogy of a clanging symbol to prove his point.  You may be an amazing musician, but without love you are nothing.  Perhaps, people inside of church at Corinth were forgetting the purpose of being a Christian, becoming Christ like is all aspects of life.  Essentially, Paul was trying to prove a point, this is not how you do it.

Let all that you do be done in love, 1 Corinthians 16:14.

Today, many believers fail miserably, unable to love, display patience or be kind.  Part of this failure is due to a departure of complete trust in God.  Rather, the temptation to be self-reliant has trumped faith.  Instead of undergoing a subtle spiritual transformation, the world is winning, with compromise after compromise.  If the apostle Paul struggled to defeat temptation, Romans 7:14-18, everyone will face a similar fate.  In the meantime, yield to God, surrendering control of your life.  When you do, the mercy God displayed for you can flow outwardly toward others.  While I still don’t know how Jesus loved the unlovable, let all that you do be inspired by love.

by Jay Mankus

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Not Just Words…A Lifestyle

Posted on March 29, 2017 by expressyourself4him

Whether you are an athlete, co-worker or student, no one likes to be lectured by someone who does not practice what they preach.  While admonishing, correcting or rebuking an individual may have good intentions, when this act is carried out by a hypocrite, this conversation loses its meaning.  Subsequently, the purpose of any effort to illustrate what is right is lost by mere words.

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever, 1 Timothy 5:8.

As a teenager pastor, Timothy struggled to earn the respect of older members of his congregation.  Understanding his frustration, the apostle Paul wrote Timothy a few letters to convince others of the correct course of action.  The verse above is meant to keep in line anyone who thinks they are above God’s law.  Thus, Timothy was encouraged to stress the importance of developing a godly lifestyle, not empty words.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Over time, Timothy came to realize that the standard for life is the Bible.  This collection of books provides the confused, those stuck and uncertain with the answers necessary to move forward.  While there will always be those who challenge authority, the Word of God is the guiding light to lead the lost.  Wherever you are at this stage in life, may the Holy Spirit inspire you to become fixated on a Christ-like life style, not just words.

by Jay Mankus

 

 

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What Did You Expect?

Posted on August 17, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Eleanor Porter’s book Pollyanna was first published in 1912.  Nearly 50 years later, Walt Disney brought this little girl to life in the form of a movie bearing her name.  In a world of pessimism, Pollyanna saw circumstances through rose colored glasses, focusing her attention on the good things in life.

Seventy years wiser, Pollyanna’s are nearing extinction, killed by negativity.  Instead, a new age is dawning, starring, “What did you expect anyway?”  Debbie downers have set fire to optimism, extinguishing hope with self-fulfilling prophecies of failure.  This attitude is breeding a generation of despair, void of expectations.  The blame game, put downs and trash talking are leaving the masses to settle for mediocrity.

To escape this mentality, one must arm themselves with the mind of Christ, 1 Peter 4:1-2.  Sometimes debating others until you are blue in the face is a waste of time.  Rather, rid yourself of negative influences, Colossians 3:8-10, replacing these with the practices of Jesus, Colossians 3:12-15.  Although you won’t have many fans along the way, be doers of the Word, not doubters, Matthew 7:24.  In the end, through thick and thin, you can expect a room in heaven, John 14:2.

by Jay Mankus

 

 

 

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