Where You Lead

Living Example

Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 32:46

If ever you’ve been tempted to tell your children, “Do as I say, not as I do” then this is a perfect reason why you shouldn’t. God has commanded us to live the words of His law, not to simply recite them to our children.

I know I was guilty of this very attitude for a long time. I smoked cigarettes but told my kids that they must not smoke. Of course, my actions spoke louder than my words; three of my kids smoke. I have finally broken free from this addiction, with the help of the Holy Spirit, but the damage has already been done to my three oldest children. The fact is, our words don’t mean much when our actions contradict them.

When we teach our children God’s word, and instruct them to follow God’s laws, we must also make the commitment to follow those same laws. If we tell our children they must share God’s blessings then we must be willing to share as well. When we walk past a Salvation Army bell ringer or fail to place money in the basket at church, we are teaching our children that we don’t take God’s words to heart.

I’m convinced that it is better for our children to see us live God’s word and never speak of it than to hear us speak it constantly and never live it.