With a background in fitness and nutrition, and knowledge about the evils of sugar, it’s kind of embarrassing for me to admit I have the biggest sweet tooth ever. I enjoy baking and have used sugary confections as a reward more than a time or two. While a balanced diet can include the occasional dessert – I have to limit myself so things don’t get out of hand.
Years ago, when I used to teach weight management classes, I found myself choosing foods ever-so-carefully at restaurants. I knew all the benefits of a healthy diet. I was also a bit paranoid that I’d bump into one of my students and I didn’t want my choices to play a role in his/her downfall.

We’ve all heard the expression, “Practice what you preach.” Apparently that idiom came from a Bible verse:

Jesus was referring to the Pharisees, or religious teachers, in this passage. They were teaching others the importance of keeping the Law, but they weren’t applying it in their own lives. Instead of being role models for what it meant to honor God, these men were just speaking empty words.

Before we’re too hard on these guys, let’s take a look at our own lives.

Being a good example is important. But being a good spiritual example is critical. The apostle Paul felt it was so crucial, he included a section about it in his first letter to Timothy:

Paul didn’t just say Timothy’s speech was important. But the way he lived his life would also make a big impact on his ministry. Paul urged Timothy to live: with love, yielded to the Holy Spirit, relying on/trusting in god, and with moral virtue.
As a young pastor of a church dealing with false teachers, this had to be challenging. But Paul didn’t stop there. He gave Timothy some ‘how-to’ instructions.

These guidelines had to be encouraging to Timothy. And they still work today. As we share God’s truth with others, make use of the gifts and abilities He’s given us, grow spiritually, and keep our lives lined up with Christ’s teachings – we will be the “example of the believers” Paul was talking about.