The thing I love about teenagers is you get right to the point. You leave no wiggle room to hedge or fudge!
So here's my answer: "No, absolutely not." You see, I preach "Be kind to one another," and yet I get frustrated with my wonderful children and lovely wife. I preach "We are all God's children," and I have a hard time liking some of His kids. I preach "We all have fallen short of the glory of God," and yet sometimes I have a hard time seeing my own mistakes and want to blame someone else.
So are we EVER able to actually practice what we preach? Yes, but following Jesus is not always easy and there are days we are going to get it wrong.
Paul said, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."1
The world wants us to think that the "practice what you preach" philosophy is not important. But God promises He will help us live in a way that is "holy and pleasing" to Him. We have to change our mind-set so we won't automatically follow the world but will rather daily renew our mind in Jesus.
You are not always going to get it right. But when you GET Jesus at the start of each day you will be well on your way to having your practice and your preach get closer and closer to one another.
God be with you and Keep looking uP!
1 Romans 12:2
