Wednesday Words of Encouragement
Do you like to talk? I confess that I generally don't have a problem in the conversation department. :-) I know some people have less to say and others seem to have an abundance of words.
No matter what your personality, do you find yourself doing some of the following things? Do you love to discuss issues and debate how the church has failed in their mission? Do you spend hours talking about all the wonderful things you have learned in scripture? Do you listen intently to the sermon each Sunday and think, "Amen!" "That pastor was right on!"? Do you feel the Holy Spirit nudging you do any of the following - tithe, be more faithful in attending a local church, give of your time and spiritual gifts?
Here is a harder question. Do you do it?
If not, than you may be guilty of doing what these verses in James warns against.
James 1:22-25 ~
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does."
You can't just talk; you have to actual walk it. Don't spend hours reading God's word and then ignore what it says. Don't browse online articles about how to live out your Christian life and then get up and keep doing the same thing. Don't keep debating constantly about how Christians should be concerned with the poor and needy and then ignore the people around you who are hurting.
I know Christians who have professed Christ for years and are still in the same exact spot they were 5, 10, 20 and 30 years ago. God expects us to step up our game. You can't just sit and listen. You can't just talk the talk. You have to live it.
► If you know God says to give, then give! Don't just think about it or make excuses why you can't.
► If the Lord wants you to help your neighbor, then get up off your sofa and do it!
► If He is calling you to some particular ministry, do it! Don't be full of good intentions.
► If you know you need to love the person in the pew next to you, do you do it?
► Do you know that you need to meet regularly with the body of Christ? Then get up on Sunday and get out of the house!
And the list goes on.
Don't be guilty of being a believer who just talks. Hear from the Lord and then walk your talk!
No matter what your personality, do you find yourself doing some of the following things? Do you love to discuss issues and debate how the church has failed in their mission? Do you spend hours talking about all the wonderful things you have learned in scripture? Do you listen intently to the sermon each Sunday and think, "Amen!" "That pastor was right on!"? Do you feel the Holy Spirit nudging you do any of the following - tithe, be more faithful in attending a local church, give of your time and spiritual gifts?
Here is a harder question. Do you do it?
If not, than you may be guilty of doing what these verses in James warns against.
James 1:22-25 ~
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does."
You can't just talk; you have to actual walk it. Don't spend hours reading God's word and then ignore what it says. Don't browse online articles about how to live out your Christian life and then get up and keep doing the same thing. Don't keep debating constantly about how Christians should be concerned with the poor and needy and then ignore the people around you who are hurting.
I know Christians who have professed Christ for years and are still in the same exact spot they were 5, 10, 20 and 30 years ago. God expects us to step up our game. You can't just sit and listen. You can't just talk the talk. You have to live it.
► If you know God says to give, then give! Don't just think about it or make excuses why you can't.
► If the Lord wants you to help your neighbor, then get up off your sofa and do it!
► If He is calling you to some particular ministry, do it! Don't be full of good intentions.
► If you know you need to love the person in the pew next to you, do you do it?
► Do you know that you need to meet regularly with the body of Christ? Then get up on Sunday and get out of the house!
And the list goes on.
Don't be guilty of being a believer who just talks. Hear from the Lord and then walk your talk!
Comments
Post a Comment
I love your comments and encouragement! I can't always respond back but do read each comment.