This post is inspired by a friend who has made me think differently about everything and has inspired me to not accept just one idea, but to open my mind to other ideas out there :].
I don’t remember how we got on the topic, but one day we started talking about “defending our faith” and what this meant and how to go about it. Well eventually we got to the point in which we concluded that we shouldn’t have to defend our faith, but show our faith. We all have heard that phrase “actions speak louder than words” and to be honest, at least from what I have experienced, this phrase is right. How many times has someone told you something and not done what they have said or gone back on their word? I know it’s happened to me several times. People say things they don’t mean, break promises, hurt others, etc. Words…I guess can be meaningful at times, but very hurtful as well depending on the situation. The point I am getting to is this, how can we describe God’s love to others, if we ourselves are not conducting ourselves in a proper manner.
Which brings us back to the phrase “actions speak louder than words.” The example my friend made was a scenario in which a christian is talking to someone who is a non believer about God. Lets say both were arguing and trying to “defend” their position. Well, unless both are open minded and are accepting of each others views, no one will budge from what they believe. If we as Christians are defending our faith, pushing it on others, or trying to prove why it’s the right thing to follow, who will follow what we say? God did not tell us to push our faith on others, he asked us to SHOW others. What kind of example will we be setting if we are badgering people about what they believe, or even acting the opposite of how we should be acting.
Now, I am not saying we all are perfect little Christians who never mess up, NO, we screw up big time all the time. We say things we shouldn’t, act in ways we shouldn’t, make decisions that are not always the best choices…the point is no one is perfect, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be striving to be more and do more as God wanted us to do. We are a city on a hill, the light of the world, we are being watched at all times, so we must set an example worth watching and worth following. A life full of love and no hatred. A life full of honesty, and not lies. A life full of Christ. Showing the love of Jesus is the best way to explain your faith and beliefs. God called us to love.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” -Matthew 22: 37-38
And one of the main things he told us was “ Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” -1 John 3:18
Actions and in Truth.
Life is all about love. God is love, and since God created us (my belief) he wants us to learn how to love here on earth. I mean…if you think about it that’s what life boils down to. LOVE. Which brings us back to the second verse 1 John 3:18. We love with actions, not just words. I have been reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and I absolutely loved day 16. It talked about what matters most, which is of course, Love. Anyways, my favorite part of that reading was what he said,
“The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now.”
Yes…I know it may sound very cliché or whatever, but think about it. Life without love is pointless, or else what would you be living for? (again that is just my opinion you do not have to agree with me) What other expression is best for showing love than giving your TIME to the other person? Time, is so precious to us because it can never be stopped (at least by us humans anyways), and it is something that is set. Rick described it as, “…giving them a portion of your life that you will never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.” Love is a sacrifice, giving someone your time—is a sacrifice, but if God thought that sacrificing his son for us was worthwhile, don’t you think it would be worthwhile for you to love others in this way?
When was the last time you called one of your friends to tell them you care about them? Or told them you love them? You shouldn’t need a reason to call and tell them that, that should be the reason you call lol. I am not trying to make anyone feel bad about not doing it, I know I don’t always do it, I’m just trying to make you think. So if you read this, take some time this week to just shoot someone a call to remind them you care about them :] you never know who’s day you can brighten up with just one call :]
