Living by Example

In Galations 1:12 (NCV), Paul says:
"I did not get it [the Good News] from humans, nor did anyone teach it to me, but Jesus Christ showed it to me."

I think the real hard-hitting importance of this passage is the word "showed". It's not right for a person to say one thing, and live the other way - preach one thing and perform the opposite. And I've been increasingly aware of the fact that I see it in my own life.

In recent months, I've found that by pursuing the word of God and life change, God has revealed to me new ways to understand scripture and apply it to my life. He has also given me a new strength and passion with how I interact with people. But I think that as I seek to see people experience life change like how I have, I become less compassionate and more focused on rules. It's easy to say that life should be lived a certain way, but it's another thing to make those things a routine in personal life. And what I need is to find a balance. But at the heart of everything, if I want to see life change in others and encourage people to seek God, I must show that in my own life first.

People will respond when they see the change in your life, of responding to Christ's love. Rebecca Manley Pippert put it this way, "People will understand as much of the love of God as they see in our own lives." And I think that's an important concept to dwell on.