"Do As I Say Not As I Do..." Ever heard this? Maybe no more frustrating life lesson than to be given this instruction. Face it, everyone wants someone they can look to that is not only instructing rightly, but also living rightly. Instruction is so much more palatable from an individual who lives out that which he teaches.
Allow me to illustrate. When I was in junior high school we had a principal that everyone loved. He was charismatic, involved, preached well, and seemed to love God. He preached wonderful truths that all teenagers needed to hear regarding moral and holy living, but we were all heartbroken to find that he was not living according to the very truths that he taught. Rather, he was living contrary to them in absolute moral failure. I remember my dad coming in (my heart was TORN!) and telling me that, "Truth is truth no matter whose lips it falls from..." Then, with my dad's reassuring chuckle he said, "But it sure does settle a lot better when it rings true in the life of the person." I think we all have been through some instance such as this.
Think with me about the first family. As we have discussed God game them a beautiful, functional world in which to live and worship their God. He also gave them one commandment, and the penalty for breaking that command. When Adam just couldn't say, "No!" to sin the "First Family" became like many of our families and experienced the "Fallout" of dysfunction. They were cast out of God's garden, and cursed. It is no wonder then that Adam and Eve had a hard time convincing Cain that God was one that should be obeyed.
This week will focus on Cain and Abel while realizing that we certainly simplify our positive impact on those who follow us when we "Do As We Say"!
I hope you will be with us as we continue in this great series!
From my heart,
-R
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