Catching Fire: The Power of Our WordsSample

Some of Jesus’ harshest words were for the leaders of the religious communities at the time. Jesus consistently pointed out the cumbersome burden these leaders would put on the people in addition to the requirements of the law. While these leaders would point out all the ways people fell short, the religious leaders’ behaviors and words didn’t reflect faithfulness to God and His kingdom. There was a disconnect between what they said they believed and what their actions revealed they believed.

What Jesus was talking about in this passage was just another way of describing integrity. Integrity is when our words, actions, and, ultimately, our hearts are aligned. When there is a misalignment between our words, actions, and hearts, we do more than lose credibility - we dis-integrate. We live fractured lives with misaligned mission and purpose. That’s not what we were made for. Instead, we practice what we preach, knowing that our hearts, words, and actions are connected. Living this way with awareness of the connection all parts of us have ultimately makes us healthier and more credible people to those observing our lives and our message as followers of Jesus.