Yes, we will have to live out our faith. Without that, we won’t have any credibility or integrity. Actions matter. That’s a given. But our actions aren’t enough. I remember when a young campus minister told us the story of how he prayed for a homeless man who had been struck by a truck. He was hunched over with broken ribs but didn’t bother going to the hospital. This minister prayed for the man, and as he prayed in the name of Jesus, they both heard cracking sounds coming from his ribs. At the end of the prayer, the homeless man straightened up, stretched out his arms, took a deep breath and smiled. He was healed. At the end of the story, I asked excitedly, “Did you invite him to follow Jesus?” He just looked at me, his eyes blinking in bewilderment. “I didn’t even think to ask.” Actions don’t interpret themselves. Words and actions are like two wings of an airplane, and you won’t catch flight in witness with just one or the other. Words are needed to explain the actions. It’s the pattern that you see in Jesus’ ministry throughout the gospels: a demonstration of the kingdom of God followed by an explanation of what’s going on. For Jesus, words always followed deeds. There’s an old saying: “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” But that’s not quite right. Stick and stones can break bones, but words can wound a soul. Or lift it up. In fact, from the beginning, all of creation—every breath and shining glory—started with a word. Words bring life. The Bible challenges us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). You might be given an opportunity to talk about your faith, and if you want to offer life, your words are always necessary.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 02:58:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015