Careful Consideration

As we think about the things we say, we must be very careful about what comes out of our mouths. These words will judge us. Either what we say is in accordance with how we act, or it is not. We are either people of integrity, or we are hypocrites. The Scriptures bear this out in that they call those of us who are Christ Followers to be, at the very core of who we are, real. That is not to say, "perfect," because we will never attain to that (the Apostle Paul didn't either). But if we are who we say we are, and we live out the things we say we believe, then that goes a long way to showing the world that Jesus is who He claims to be.

So today, I want to challenge you to take careful consideration of what you are saying to people. Because if you call yourself a Christ Follower, then there is a certain amount of activity in your life that needs to be demonstrating that. Last week we spoke about the fact that our actions will demonstrate to the world that we really are who and what we say we are. This is what we are talking about here again. We must be careful that what we do matches what we say, and what we say matches what we do.

So how about it, Christ Follower? Are you doing and living in a way that backs up what you say you believe? Is the truth of your words born out in your actions? Or are you hypocrite? There really isn't a choice if we want to see the world won for Jesus Christ.

Feel free to comment below about some of the things that you are dealing with in your life where your actions aren't lining up with your words. And we will see you on Sunday!

Taking Action

When you have looked at your life and seen where you stand in relation to the things in your life that God wants you to change, there is one more step to take. There is one last thing to do to make that change a reality, and that is to take action to correct the things that are amiss in your life.

Do you remember that we talked about looking into mirrors a few weeks ago and how odd it would be if someone who woke up in the morning with bad hair, drooly face, and all other manner of unattractive things looked at themselves in the mirror and yet did nothing to correct it? It would make for a very funny movie or TV show (or even a skit for a talent show, eh?), but a very awkward reality. The funny thing about it is that most of us do just that each and every day in our Spiritual lives. We look into the mirror of God's Word and then do nothing to change.

Here's the point. If you have taken stock of your life and seen that there are things in your life that need to change, then you need to do the logical next step and take action to correct those errors. It would be like a coach who is losing the game seeing what is wrong, but not calling a time out to make the changes. It just does not make sense.

So if you took stock yesterday, take action today, and make this life that you have live here and now have tremendous effect on the there and then!

Comment below about a time when you not only took stock, but also took action to correct it, and the blessing that followed from the Lord. And we'll see you on Sunday!

What Would You Do?

If you had someone come to your home, or into your place of employment and they were in real need, what would you do? Would you see how you might be able to help them, or would you turn them away as someone else's problem?

You see, the answer to the question at that point is not if you have faith or not. The question at that point is does your faith impact your daily life? It is wholly a matter of choice, and if we are going to be the people of faith, as the Scriptures call us, then the choice is to do whatever it takes to help the other person.

I was reminded during my vacation that the early church was known for this kind of choice. In the Roman world, when a child was unwanted or defective or damaged, it was completely legal to just simply take the baby to the local garbage dump, and lay it there to die of exposure. But those who followed Jesus in that day were different. Their faith led them to believe that all life is sacred, and as a result, there were those who would very often go by the local garbage heaps to rescue those children who left for dead. This gained them quite a standing in the area as those who followed Christ.

So I ask you, what kind of reputation do you have in the community? Are you living for Christ, or are you living for yourself? It matters, folks, because if we claim to have Jesus in our heart, and that we believe in the Scriptures, then we must act in accordance to them.

Comment below about a time when your faith moved you to action, and we'll see you on Sunday!