Good morning! There is a quote I learned a long time ago that seems to resurface itself every once in a while. I still remember it having such a big impact in my life when I first heard it. I love it because it reinforces the idea of walking the talk.
“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”
St. Francis of Assisi
Think about this for a minute… Normally, we associate preaching with a Pastor standing in front of the church and using words to speak to the congregation about how to apply God’s Word to their lives. Other times, we may think about people who have approached us in our everyday lives wanting to tell us about Jesus. Both of these scenarios are forms of preaching and both of them include using words. So what is this idea of preaching without using words?
It is living in such a way that the people around us will know that we love Jesus and have committed our lives to Him, strictly because of what they see in our actions.
I hold myself to a very high standard when it comes to being true to my words and commitments. If I say I am going to do something, I do it. If I make a commitment to be somewhere, I show up early and communicate if something hinders me from keeping the commitment. I want my “yes” to be “yes,” and my “no” to be “no.” I want people to know that they can rely on me.
When a person is consistently true to their words, they will gain the trust of the people around them. Other people will believe what the person tells them and takes them serious. On the flip side, the opposite is true as well – think about the boy who cried wolf – the boy said something that wasn’t true one too many times, and when he was really in danger, no one believed him.
The message we have to tell the people around us is too important for us to mess up, we have to be people that others can trust. I’m talking about sharing the Good News of the Gospel!
The Bible talks about the importance of living in a way that reflects the words that we say.
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? “
James 2:14-16
The first thing I want to clarify here is that we are not saved by the works that we do! We are saved by grace alone and through believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior! We cannot earn our way to salvation – it is a FREE gift of God!
Having said that, our faith in God should call us to action. How can we claim to love God and continue to overlook the hurting people around us? How can we claim to have a relationship with God and still live in ways that directly oppose the Word of God? James continues writing…
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.“
James 2:17-18
When we tell others that we believe in Jesus and encourage them to do the same, our lives are now automatically under a microscope. People want to see authentic christianity and not just empty words.
This is where the quote above comes into play. Let the people around you see the change that the Holy Spirit has made in your life. Anyone can say that they believe in Jesus, but it takes a person truly committed to Him to put someone else’s need above their own.
Let’s choose today to be people that will practice what we preach so that others will see the love of Jesus in us, and in turn begin to seek Him! Let’s show the people around us our faith by the way we act in the love that God has given to us!
Heavenly Father, thank You for the people around us who have set an example of what it looks like to live out our faith. Thank You for Your faithfulness to us and for always being someone we can trust! Help us to be people that would live out our faith in everyday interactions so that the people around us will see You and be drawn to You! Help us to be trustworthy, honest, and genuine at all times. In Jesus Name – AMEN!
Be Transformed 