Published by admin on 18 May 2012 at 01:40 pm
BE THE WORD OF GOD
There’s an old saying “Less talk, more action” that I’d like to explore today. Actually, this will cover several areas, so let’s get started. We all know people who are all talk and no action when it comes to living for Christ Jesus. Of course I realize that we’re all perfect and nobody reading this could be lacking any of these areas, but for the sake of “other people”, let’s check it out anyway.
Christ Jesus gave us some wonderful insight when He said in Matthew 5:13-16;
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Now, let me ask you, does salt talk, or does it give flavor and preserve? How about light, does light talk, or does it overcome darkness and clearly illuminate the path to keep you from stumbling? He said your light should SHINE before men that they may SEE, and glorify the heavenly Father. Nothing mentioned about words here at all. I remember an old saying, “Preach the Gospel everywhere, use words when necessary.” How can that be done? By us BEING the Word of God, walking the walk, not just talking the walk.
Now, I’m not downplaying the value of words at all. Everything God did, He accomplished by sending forth His Word, and it is written in Isaiah 55:11 that His Word does not return to Him void, but accomplishes that which He sent it to do. But many folks believe all they have to do is SPEAK the Word and all will be done according to their words. Sorry, not so. Oh yeah, but it worked for Jesus, didn’t it? True, but you’re missing the point. Jesus LIVED the Word, and obeyed His heavenly Father perfectly in ALL ways. Do you do that? I’m sorry to say, but I fall short of the measure of perfection Jesus walked in every day. In fact, if you’re honest about it, you probably do too. You see, actions speak louder than words. But if you dig a little deeper, words only reveal what’s inside a person. If you listen to someone closely for about five minutes, you’ll know what’s inside of them. You’ll know what they think about, what their purpose in life is, and before long their words will give them away, no matter how carefully they may try to hide what’s inside.
Jesus said a lot in Luke 6:31-45, things that would show a man’s true character and that character is developed by DOING. And of course, what we hear continually determines what we will do, for people do not do things without first talking about them. Sometimes we just miss what they talk about though by not paying close enough attention. But as I said, if you listen, they will reveal themselves.
Luk 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Luk 6:32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
Luk 6:33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
Luk 6:34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
Luk 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Luk 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Luk 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Luk 6:39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Luk 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
Luk 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Luk 6:42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
Luk 6:43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Luk 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Christ Jesus not only TOLD us how to live, but He DEMONSTRATED it by His actions. Yes, He preached to multitudes, but like they say, talk is cheap, so He gave His example so clearly, even a deaf person would recognize the Word of God and give the heavenly Father glory, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
Everything we say should line up with the Word of God, and if it doesn’t, then our words will judge us. Jesus said in Matthew 12:36-37
Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
How is it our words will justify or condemn us? Well, our words will determine our actions, which in turn will determine if we are a light for Jesus, or if we’re a “dim-bulb”, or if we’re darkness. We can talk the talk, but we can’t fool God. Getting back to what Jesus did, His powerful ministry was the result of His relationship with His Father, and how everything He said and did pleased His Father. I can’t think of any Christian I ever met that didn’t want to walk in power and authority, but often people are not willing to pay the high cost of discipleship.
Far too often we are more willing to please ourselves, rather than God. A “disciple” is one who shapes themselves, forcing themselves into the image of their teacher, which in this case is God Himself. To the degree we discipline ourselves to conform to the image of God’s Word will determine the degree of power and authority we walk in as a follower of Christ Jesus. God isn’t going to trust someone with His power that isn’t conformed to His image. That would be like giving a five year old kid a loaded gun and telling him go play with it. He may be a nice kid, but he isn’t ready to handle that kind of responsibility. He must be further taught and matured and show himself trustworthy first before being handed that kind of power. The same goes with the Word of God. We KNOW by what Jesus said in Mark 11:23-24 that the Word of God is powerful beyond our puny knowledge, and God wants for us to be able to use it to build His Kingdom.
“Oh yes, Lord, give me that power, I want it!” Do you, now? Do you want it in order to build YOUR kingdom, or GOD’S kingdom? Come on, now, what would you do if every word you said came to pass exactly as you said it? You might destroy the world with everything in it. Only when our heart is fully, and I mean FULLY submitted to the Holy Spirit will we be able to see the results Christ Jesus did with Mark 11:23-24. Can we really accomplish this? Yes, He said so, in fact, COMMANDED US TO. He showed us the Kingdom of God, not only by His words, but His actions, and mostly His actions. He WAS light, and he WAS salt, He didn’t just go around saying, Look at me, I’m anointed. No, He WAS, and IS the Word of God.
We all want to see a “little less talk, and more action” in our walk with the LORD. And that’s what HE wants to see as well. The question must be asked then; Are we willing to pay the price to be like Jesus? You know, your salvation is free to you, but it certainly wasn’t free to Jesus. It was His gift to YOU, freely given by His own free will, at the cost of His own life. And that choice was the result of His deep and abiding relationship with His heavenly Father. He wasn’t just about talk, though He IS the Word of God, He says you can be, too. And He freely gives the Holy Spirit to those who really want to pursue Him, and BE the Word of God. Freely! Are there any takers today?