As children of the Most High God, we're called to be doers of the Word, not merely hearers, or agree-ers.
We can’t behave like little plastic bobblehead dolls: Stiffed-necked and immovable; only nodding our heads in agreement for the sake of false peace, or to appear holy and righteous, yet with no resolve to put anything we hear/read into practice.
Jesus said, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” (Matthew 15:8) In 1 John 3:18 we're given this excellent exhortation, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
Just talking about God and all the “right” and “good” things to do, does not make us doers of the Word; it only makes us wind bags. And like wind, all our talking comes and goes, but there’s no lasting effect in our lives or others (James 1:22-25), because there's no power coming from it by the Spirit of Christ; since creating anything false only comes from the Devil or our flesh, but not from our Father above.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them....Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is...What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
“But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
~Ephesians 2:10; 5:15-17; James 2:14-18
It's good to pray for others and agree with sound doctrine and biblical teaching, but without actually practicing what we profess to agree with, or actively and intentionally love those we are praying for, we prove we are merely Pharisees in sheep’s clothing.
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
~James 4:17
It seems being merely hearers and agree-ers is a more prevalent problem here in the United States where most of us do not purposefully strive for holiness (1 Peter 1:13-16, 2 Peter 1:5-8), but live merely hoping they do not offend God—which of course, offends God.
Most of us live in lavished comforts and don't really know what true persecution looks or feels like here in America. We think if someone rebukes us for a sin—we're being persecuted; while there are multitudes of Christians all over the world who would scratch their heads at many, if not most of us here in the United States who call ourselves children of the Most High God. If you want to know about true Christian persecution, that is, suffering for doing what is right by Christ, then read about Stephen in Acts 7, or the stories of the Puritans like George Whitefield, John Flavel, or other books and magazines that tell of horrid and faithful tales of real people who really know what it means to suffer for doing good (1 Peter 2:19-23).
Who knows, perhaps our wise and merciful Father God is allowing us to feel just a small sense of persecution and worldly pressures within our country in varying ways, to help His children who live here, rise up above mere head bobbing, and fight the good fight of faith for: our families, spiritual children, friends, and co-workers.
Sure, there are many Christian TV shows, radio stations and other forms of Christian para-church ministries and outlets, but sadly, I've been finding that many of these people stand for God's truth a lot better behind a mic, a camera or computer screen than they actually do in their personal lives.
When it's time to roll up our sleeves and obey, live and teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:18-21, 26-27), we shy away from it because it just seems so mean to love someone enough to confront sin in their lives, feed them with God's Word, and intercede in prayer for their eternal good (Proverbs 17:17, 27:5-6). No, that'll just make people feel uncomfortable and well, they might not like, follow or subscribe to us anymore, so we can't do that. No, we'll only say all the nice "encouraging" things that tickles ears and only make people feel good, but does nothing to exhort them do good because God's call to holiness and righteousness has no place in the prevalent nominal Christianity of our day.
As co-heirs with Christ Jesus our Lord, let us remain steadfast in our devotion to our heavenly Father and seek every opportunity He has laid before us to pray for, bless, love and do good to others (the way God commands, not the way that suits us) while we still have time. None of us are guaranteed our next breath; neither you, me, nor the people God has providentially placed in our lives. So be wise, and make haste to intentionally pursue God's righteousness, seek godliness and love others enough to do what's right, regardless of how they may react.
Love God and others, more than you love yourself (Mk 12:30-31).
Most of us live in lavished comforts and don't really know what true persecution looks or feels like here in America. We think if someone rebukes us for a sin—we're being persecuted; while there are multitudes of Christians all over the world who would scratch their heads at many, if not most of us here in the United States who call ourselves children of the Most High God. If you want to know about true Christian persecution, that is, suffering for doing what is right by Christ, then read about Stephen in Acts 7, or the stories of the Puritans like George Whitefield, John Flavel, or other books and magazines that tell of horrid and faithful tales of real people who really know what it means to suffer for doing good (1 Peter 2:19-23).
Who knows, perhaps our wise and merciful Father God is allowing us to feel just a small sense of persecution and worldly pressures within our country in varying ways, to help His children who live here, rise up above mere head bobbing, and fight the good fight of faith for: our families, spiritual children, friends, and co-workers.
Sure, there are many Christian TV shows, radio stations and other forms of Christian para-church ministries and outlets, but sadly, I've been finding that many of these people stand for God's truth a lot better behind a mic, a camera or computer screen than they actually do in their personal lives.
When it's time to roll up our sleeves and obey, live and teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:18-21, 26-27), we shy away from it because it just seems so mean to love someone enough to confront sin in their lives, feed them with God's Word, and intercede in prayer for their eternal good (Proverbs 17:17, 27:5-6). No, that'll just make people feel uncomfortable and well, they might not like, follow or subscribe to us anymore, so we can't do that. No, we'll only say all the nice "encouraging" things that tickles ears and only make people feel good, but does nothing to exhort them do good because God's call to holiness and righteousness has no place in the prevalent nominal Christianity of our day.
"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness."
~1 Timothy 6:11
As co-heirs with Christ Jesus our Lord, let us remain steadfast in our devotion to our heavenly Father and seek every opportunity He has laid before us to pray for, bless, love and do good to others (the way God commands, not the way that suits us) while we still have time. None of us are guaranteed our next breath; neither you, me, nor the people God has providentially placed in our lives. So be wise, and make haste to intentionally pursue God's righteousness, seek godliness and love others enough to do what's right, regardless of how they may react.
Love God and others, more than you love yourself (Mk 12:30-31).
"Let us take heed that we are among those who really follow Christ, and abide with Him. It is not enough to hear Him preached from the pulpit, and to read of Him as described in books. We must actually follow Him, pour out our hearts before Him, and hold personal communion with Him. Then, and not until then, we shall feel constrained to speak of Him to others. The man who only knows Christ by hearing of the ear, will never do much for the spread of Christ's cause in the earth."
~J.C. Ryle
(excerpt from: Expository Thoughts on John
concerning John 1:35-42)
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