Live The Word

It wasn't always fun being the preacher's kid (PK).  For one thing, from the pulpit Dad had a bird's eye view of where I sat, if I was paying attention, and if I "might" be holding hands with one certain young man. Paul gave Timothy an emphatic directive, "Preach the word!" (1 Timothy 4:2).  At the front of most churches, there's a raised area on which stands a pulpit from which is proclaimed the Name of Christ. I doubt Paul was instructing young Timothy (or us) to drag a pulpit around, but his instruction is very relevant to Christians today.  While words are often necessary to share Christ, actions are also crucial to the message.  True followers of Christ understand their behavior, speech, choices, and attitudes reveal the deeper parts of who we are.  To live in contrast to Christ shames and disclaims Him as Lord of our lives. Literally, our lives are God's – displaying Him either in honor or disgrace.  Oswald Chambers wrote, "He does not turn us into spiritual agents but into spiritual messengers, and the message must be a part of us."  The idea is we are so rooted in Christ, He is first-nature (not second-nature) in all we say and do, all we choose, all we decide, all we are!  If you claim Christ, your pulpit is established and your preaching is in progress  – live the Word!