Welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread.

My name is Sochiel Dixon.

In today's devotional, practice what you preach.

I share a funny but humbling story about how God used my son to help me grow spiritually.

I started reading the Bible to my sons when my youngest, Xavier, entered kindergarten.

I would look for teachable moments and share verses that would apply to our circumstances

and encourage them to pray with me. Xavier memorized scripture without even trying.

If we were in a predicament in which we needed

wisdom, he'd blurt out verses that shined a light on God's truth. One day, I got angry

and spoke harshly within his ear shot. My son hugged me and said, practice what you preach,

Mama.

Xavier's gentle reminder echoes the wise counsel of James as he addressed Jewish believers in Jesus

scattered in various countries.

Highlighting the various ways sin can interfere with our witness for Christ,

James encouraged them to humbly accept the word planted in them.

By hearing but not obeying Scripture, we're like people who look in the mirror and forget what we look

like. We can lose sight of the privilege we've been given as image bearers made right with God

to the blood of Christ. Believers in Jesus

are commanded to share the gospel. The Holy Spirit changes us while empowering us to become

better representatives and therefore messengers of the good news. As our loving obedience helps

us reflect the light of God's truth and love, wherever he

sends us, we can point others to Jesus by practicing what we preach.

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