Skip to main content

Walk the Walk

    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)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Listen Up

    Is Jesus talking to you? I hear many people wonder how to hear God's voice and what to listen for. I want to offer a bit of wisdom on the topic. If you are wondering if God is talking to you, the answer is yes. We were designed to have a relationship with our creator and He is always there trying to get ahold of you if you'll only pay a little attention.     How does God communicate with us? The first way is through His word. Those are direct words from God Himself, written through His people. The Bible is our instruction manual to life. Whatever difficulty we may be facing, there is always an answer in scripture. God, having known every need before we ever needed it, has already provided an answer. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (ESV)     The second way God communicates with us is by talking directly to us. Just like Adam and Eve spok...
Post a Comment
Read more

Taking the Lead

    When you are in a position of leadership your entire life becomes public. You have people looking up to you and down on you simultaneously. Your life is judged more harshly not only by those who you are leading, but by God. It's not something one should ask God for flippantly. That in mind, how do you view your own leaders? I would bet that the majority of us have complaints about them. So how do we deal with that Biblically?     First, we need to recognize that leadership in a church is God-appointed. God chooses who will lead the church for a specified season. Do you not think that He could take anyone out of a leadership position at any time if He so chose? The point is, we need to recognize Jesus' anointing and honor our leaders. We also need to judge less harshly those who are in those positions. What would the church see if your life was under the microscope? Have grace and compassion for those whose lives are constantly on display. One of the most import...
Post a Comment
Read more

On Duty

    Many people think of the responsibility of leading others to Jesus as a job. But I believe it is much more than that-- it's a lifestyle. We think that evangelism is something we can turn on and turn off. But if evangelism were considered a job, we would always be "on duty." Some are called and gifted specifically in the area of evangelism, but what about the rest of us? If that is not our calling are we off the hook? Absolutely not! Jesus told His disciples (and us) to go into all the world and spread the word about Jesus. Not only to get them saved, but to make disciples of them. Once we have been discipled, it is our job to keep the process going. Ephesians 4:11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers (NIV) Mark 16:15 And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." (NLT) Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the...
Post a Comment
Read more