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Thursday, January 18, 2024

Lebanon County tractor in snow
Yesterday the sun shone brightly amidst the snowy landscape making for a very bright day requiring sunglasses for driving. But the brisk winds and low temps made being outdoors very chilly and rather unpleasant. We made several chaplain calls in Lebanon County where, for many years, this John Deere tractor is parked along the road come rain, shine or snow near Audrey's where we serve as chaplains.

"Practice What We Preach"

Message summary: Today let us all seek to practice what we preach! Paul's directive to Titus is good advice for all of us: "In everything set an example by doing what is good" (Titus 2:7).

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"As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been" (1 Kings 11:4).  "In everything set an example by doing what is good" (Titus 2:7).

"Practice what you preach" is a phrase used not only for preachers but for everyone. It means to "to do the things that you advise other people to do". We remember hearing it all the time as children and it's a good word to live by. We all know people who don't practice what they preach, and we acknowledge that there are preachers who don't practice what they preach. The Bible describes these individuals as hypocrites.

In Ecclesiastes 12 Solomon is designated "the preacher" (v.8). Solomon is often reckoned as the wisest man who ever lived. He presided over the building of the temple during a time of great peace and prosperity in Israel’s history when he lived around 1000 BC.

However he also had some serious moral flaws and the Biblical record faithfully acknowledges them, an evidence of the integrity of Scripture. I recall a professor pointing out that the inclusion in the Bible record of events such as David’s sin with Bathsheba or Solomon’s many wives and concubines gives evidence to its authenticity. The writers of the Bible applied no airbrush to clean-up Biblical characters.

Ecclesiastes seems to be the expression of a man who, although rich in wisdom with good advice/common sense for others, had grown cynical in his faith. Sadly this preacher didn't practice what he preached!

1 Kings 10 describes Solomon's extravagant wealth and horses from Egypt. In chapter 11 he turns from the Lord in a most dramatic way with a penchant for many women. The Bible specifically states, “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been” (1 Kings 11:4).

In our ABF class this last Sunday Gordy, one of our teachers, pointed out that in Deuteronomy 17:14-20 there are specific warnings to kings which Solomon violated. The instructions include the necessity of regularly feeding on the Word of God (18-20).

Today let us all seek to practice what we preach! Paul's directive to Titus is good advice for all of us: "In everything set an example by doing what is good" (Titus 2:7).


Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying man Daily prayer: Father, we’re reminded by the cynical attitude of Solomon in his latter years, that it is essential for us to stay on the straight and narrow path laid out for us. We have no way of knowing when we yield to temptation just how far sin will take us, how long it will hold us, nor the damage it will do. So we must be wise and resist sin so that we find blessing instead of shame, victory instead of failure, and life instead of death. Help us to never weary of following You. All the days of our life we want to remember You, our Creator. Amen.



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Psalm 103" "Bless the Lord O My Soul" Watch on YouTube   West Coast Baptist College
Brooksyne's note: Our choir is looking forward to singing this arrangement of Psalm 103 on Sunday. We have been practicing it for several weeks and it has become a living Scripture in that it reminds us to give praise and thanksgiving for all that God has done for us:  "Who redeems, Who restores, Who renews your youth like the eagle soars. Who forgives ev'ry sin and is raising us to new life again."

Lebanon County church in snow



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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.



Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."



 
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