Author: Dave Dishman (Page 186 of 474)

My mother and father and grandparents and teachers and pastors and every other authority figure in my life admonished me to practice what you preach. It’s good advice, even if difficult to carry out.

Jesus excoriated the national religious leaders in front of a large crowd for just such a failure: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Jesus laid out example after example of how these men failed to practice what they preached. They talked a good game, but inside were blind guides full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Practice what you preach—the bottom line when it comes to living an authentic life and credible faith. The failure to do so among our leaders frustrates us, just as our failures frustrate others. It’s no surprise when those of us who preach (myself included) neglect mercy and faithfulness, we leave people cold to the ways of faith.

Some lessons never grow stale. Practice what you preach. Easy to say, hard to do.

Matthew 23 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Alena Jarrett

Recently an adventure athlete in Colorado claimed to set a new record for climbing a certain number of mountains in the shortest amount of time, trumpeting the feat across social media. Turns out, however, that she skipped one peak and failed to mention that detail. The climbing community quickly called out the lie.

Unfortunately, despite a truly remarkable effort, no one trusts the word of this athlete. Shading the truth for personal gain—leaning into hypocrisy—damages a reputation, often beyond repair.

Like the honest folks frustrated with this young climber, the Lord turns his nose up at the prayers of posers:

Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him...When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening.

The way ruin your prayers? Turn your heart inward. Put yourself above others. Build your reputation by shading the truth. Pass by the oppressed. The fatherless and the widow can take care of themselves.

To the appeals of the hypocrite, even those appearing the most religious, the Lord responds with eyes closed and fingers in his ears.

However, if at any time we return to God willing and obedient, the Lord opens his eyes and unstops his ears—which makes for a way better prayer life.

Isaiah 1 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Carl Cheng

While I’m pretty into myself, it’s nice to know I’m not the ultimate.

David wrote: Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Good news—a rock stands higher than I.

I’m not number one; it’s not all about me; I’m not the pinnacle of evolutionary progress; I ain’t all that and a bag of chips; I cannot be anything I want to be; I cannot do anything I set my mind to; I don’t have to figure it all out; I don’t need to live large; I don’t have to rely totally on myself; I’m not a rock nor an island; I don’t have to hide; I don’t have to influence; I can let the Joneses move ahead; I don’t have to fade into despair.

Because the rock that is higher than I holds room for me, and the Lord waits to lead me there.

Psalm 61 in reading the Bible cover to cover.

Photo by Simon Berger

We get in trouble when we make gods of our desires.

After years of straying, Hosea encouraged Israel to return to the Lord, take his words seriously, seek forgiveness and confess, We will never again say “Our gods” to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.

Hundreds of years later two blind men accosted Jesus outside Jericho, shouting for mercy. Jesus stopped and asked, What do you want me to do for you? Of course, they wanted to see, so Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

What to think of layering these two stories? Hosea warned people to stop making gods of their desires, which we’re all prone to do. Whether is be health, career, money, family or TikTok fame, we elevate yearnings to divine status. Hosea reminds us of the futility found in placing the good things of this world before God.

The blind men serve as better guides. Unseeing, sitting in the dirt, ears cocked, they assailed Jesus as he approached. Any hope of success or fame left them years before. They needed the compassion of Jesus and they made sure Jesus knew they knew. In response Jesus turned their way.

That’s the better order—the Lord first. I tend to make gods of my desires, then add a dusting of spirituality to pretty them up. Surely God wants me to be happy. But God may not want me to be happy. He may want me to sit blindly in the dirt until I realize my need for the Savior, shouting and screaming and flailing in my desperation.

Both these stories begin in anguish and end with compassion. Let’s drop the little gods you and I hold in our hands, and give serious thought to blindness and our need for the touch of the Lord.

Because empty and needful precedes compassion.

Hosea 14 & Matthew 20 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Scott Van Hoy