A Mid-Week View From a Pew: It’s Hard to Practice What the Bible Preaches

It’s hard sometimes — really hard — to practice what the Bible preaches.
“Forgive and forget.” “Turn the other cheek.” “Lead us not into temptation.” “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Those sound-like simple instructions when the preacher is preaching and the choir is singing “I Won’t Complain.” But it’s a different story when life walks out the sanctuary doors with you. It’s easy to say “Lord, I forgive them,” until you see the person who hurt you smiling like nothing ever happened. It’s easy to quote “turn the other cheek” — until that second slap lands.

Let’s be honest: it’s not that we don’t know the Word — it’s that living it takes work. Real work. Spiritual discipline. Dying to self-daily. The Bible wasn’t written for perfect people; it was written for people like you and me who are trying to get it right, even when we fall short.

Forgiving and forgetting? That’s not natural — that’s supernatural. You can’t do that without God helping you. Because forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending it didn’t hurt. It means choosing not to let that hurt harden your heart. Turning the other cheek doesn’t make you weak — it shows strength. It says, “You won’t control my spirit.”

And temptation? That’s an everyday battle. Whether it’s lust, greed, gossip, or pride, the enemy always knows your flavor. But remember, temptation itself isn’t sin — giving in to it is. Jesus Himself was tempted in the wilderness, but He overcame by standing on the Word. That’s the key: stand on the Word before the world knocks you down.

And when it comes to “thou shalt not commit adultery,” that commandment goes deeper than physical betrayal. It’s about faithfulness — not just to your spouse, but to your covenant with God. We cheat on God every time we put something before Him — money, status, comfort, or convenience. But even when we stray, His grace still calls us back.

The truth is, practicing what the Bible preaches isn’t about perfection. It’s about persistence. It’s about recognizing that the Christian Walk isn’t a sprint — it’s a lifelong journey of stumbling, standing, and striving. God doesn’t expect us to get it right every time, but He does expect us to keep trying, to keep trusting, and to keep growing.

Every time you bite your tongue when you want to lash out — that’s growth.
Every time you resist what you could do for what you should do — that’s growth.
Every time you say, “Lord, I can’t do this without You” — that’s faith in action.

So yes, it’s hard to practice what the Bible preaches. But that’s the point — it’s practice.
And practice makes progress.

Because when you truly start living what you’ve been quoting, that’s when you stop just attending church — and start being the Church.