Saying VS Doing

I am privileged to be with the youth on Wednesday nights trying to teach/lead them through the study "Experiencing God Youth Edition" by Dr. Henry Blackaby and Claude King. It is a wonderful study and I trust God that seeds of thought and knowledge are being planted in the hearts and minds of our young people.

Last night, we talked about the unyielding truth that what we do with what we know about God reveals what we truly believe. And I had to confess to them that far too often they have seen us older Christians doing things that reveal that we don't believe everything we say we believe about God and living the Christian life.

I used the sad example of Pinecrest Country Club in Mitchell County, where I grew up. Mom and Dad joined PCC when I was about twelve years old so that my brother and I could learn to play golf. We learned a lot more.

Mitchell County is a dry county. No liquor sales are legal there. But at Pinecrest Country Club, adult members could purchase all they wanted, anytime they wanted. Well, we all know that there have always been places like that that law enforcement officers just looked over because of all the influential people who wanted it to be they way it was, so the fact that this took place is really not that big of a deal.

Except that many of the Deacons and other leaders of my church visited this room on a regular basis, right in front of us young people. We knew they were drinking. We also knew that they gambled. It really caused me to think that a relationship with God could be relegated to Sundays at church and that I didn't really have to worry too much about time away from church because all my relationship with God was, was contained at church. These men did not seem to know it, but while they were standing and praying and leading at church, their practice away from church, specifically at the Country Club sent a clear message to us boys that they didn't really take God as seriously as they tried to teach us to. We were well able to recognize hypocrisy when we saw it.

Wha about your life today? Are you sending anyone mixed messages? Is the practice of your life consistent with the declaration of your lips so far as your relationship with God is concerned? It should be. One of the reason we see so many uncommitted and unconcerned young people hanging around today is that we have sent them inconsistent messages about Who God is and the respect, fear and honor that He is worthy to receive.

But the joy of A Loving Heavenly Father is that each day is new. His mercies really are new every morning. Repent today for the inconsistencies of your life up to now and then start to live the life of consistent example He has empowered you to live through the guidance of Holy Spirit.
You can do it! I know you can! Let's commit to one another right now to start being more and more Christ-like every day. That is God's will for us anyway.

And please don't forget. Pray, pray, pray for revival. God wants to send it if the hearts of His people are truly hungry, desperately hungry for it. Pray without ceasing. It is the only thing that can save our land.

In His Love,
Walter