From the outside looking in, the most convincing thing to prove that Christianity works is to see it working in others. Not hearing them talk about it, but seeing them walk it out. That is what leads people to Jesus. But what happens when someone talks a lot about what they "believe," yet appears to be behaving the opposite? That would turn me away immediately. We have to learn how to show others Christ in us.
The scribes and Pharisees in Jesus' day did a lot of talking. They knew the law inside and out and would enforce it on everyone who listened. Yet, they themselves didn't lift a finger to follow what they taught. Jesus spent a lot of time in His ministry chastising the religious rulers of the day. He knew their hearts. We need to be careful that we do not fall into this trap. It serves no one to just talk the talk without walking the walk.
Knowing what the Bible says without applying it to your life is pointless! If you really understood what you "know" and "believe," you would dedicate more time to using it. Check yourself that you do not turn off your mind when hearing about the word because you've "heard it before." There is always something new to learn and apply to ourselves as we continue this journey with Jesus. Stay humble and stay focused and walk out the things you say you believe.
Matthew 23:27-28 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (ESV)
Matthew 15:7-9 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (ESV)
James 2:14-18 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV)
The scribes and Pharisees in Jesus' day did a lot of talking. They knew the law inside and out and would enforce it on everyone who listened. Yet, they themselves didn't lift a finger to follow what they taught. Jesus spent a lot of time in His ministry chastising the religious rulers of the day. He knew their hearts. We need to be careful that we do not fall into this trap. It serves no one to just talk the talk without walking the walk.
Knowing what the Bible says without applying it to your life is pointless! If you really understood what you "know" and "believe," you would dedicate more time to using it. Check yourself that you do not turn off your mind when hearing about the word because you've "heard it before." There is always something new to learn and apply to ourselves as we continue this journey with Jesus. Stay humble and stay focused and walk out the things you say you believe.
Matthew 23:27-28 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (ESV)
Matthew 15:7-9 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (ESV)
James 2:14-18 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV)
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