Have you ever had someone call you their "best friend" when they never acted like a friend towards you at all? How about someone telling you how much they "love you" and then acting out in spite towards you? I think everyone has experienced this at least once in their lives. It can be hurtful, infuriating, or just plain annoying. We think, "if you were really my 'best friend' and if you really 'loved me' as much as you say you do, then how could you treat me this way?" Talk is cheap.
But do we ever think about what our actions say about us? When people get to know us, what do they see? If we identify ourselves as a "Christian," does that match up with our lifestyle? Are we living life any differently than the world lives life?
In John 13:35-36, Jesus tells his disciples how they ought to be recognized as Christ followers. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV)
I don't think that he meant that they went around publicly announcing how much they loved each other. He meant that people would be able to tell that they loved each other just by observing their actions. The word matches up with this.
1 John 3:17-19 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. (NLT)
In Luke chapter 10 Jesus tells a parable about a man who fell into the hands of robbers while journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was beaten, robbed, and left half dead on the road. While he lay there, a priest and a levite both happened to see him. Both passed on the other side of the road to avoid him. These were both men who claimed to serve the Lord! But when a Samaritan man (whom the Jews viewed very negatively) saw him lying there, he was moved with compassion and into action.
Luke 10:33-37 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (ESV)
Titus 1:16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. (NIV)
I love how Jesus puts it in this parable. He shows how it is better to repent (after initially rebelling against God) and follow God than to say you follow God when your actions show otherwise.
Matthew 21:28-31 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered (NIV)
Christians are often viewed negatively because their words do not match their actions. They claim to follow the God who is love, but fail to show love to those around them. Let's change that in our generation! Dig in and learn the word and then live it! Don't just talk the talk.
James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV)
But do we ever think about what our actions say about us? When people get to know us, what do they see? If we identify ourselves as a "Christian," does that match up with our lifestyle? Are we living life any differently than the world lives life?
In John 13:35-36, Jesus tells his disciples how they ought to be recognized as Christ followers. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV)
I don't think that he meant that they went around publicly announcing how much they loved each other. He meant that people would be able to tell that they loved each other just by observing their actions. The word matches up with this.
1 John 3:17-19 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. (NLT)
In Luke chapter 10 Jesus tells a parable about a man who fell into the hands of robbers while journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was beaten, robbed, and left half dead on the road. While he lay there, a priest and a levite both happened to see him. Both passed on the other side of the road to avoid him. These were both men who claimed to serve the Lord! But when a Samaritan man (whom the Jews viewed very negatively) saw him lying there, he was moved with compassion and into action.
Luke 10:33-37 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (ESV)
In this parable we see those who claim to love God turn away when a brother is in need. What does that say about them? Do they truly love God? Real love moves us into action.
The Bible tells us again and again how important our actions are in our walk with Jesus.
James 2:14-18 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works (HCSB)The Bible tells us again and again how important our actions are in our walk with Jesus.
Titus 1:16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. (NIV)
I love how Jesus puts it in this parable. He shows how it is better to repent (after initially rebelling against God) and follow God than to say you follow God when your actions show otherwise.
Matthew 21:28-31 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered (NIV)
Christians are often viewed negatively because their words do not match their actions. They claim to follow the God who is love, but fail to show love to those around them. Let's change that in our generation! Dig in and learn the word and then live it! Don't just talk the talk.
James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV)
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