Walk the Talk

If I don’t do the things my Father does, well and good; don’t believe me. But if I am doing them, put aside for a moment what you hear me say about myself and just take the evidence of the actions that are right before your eyes. John 10:36-37

Jesus has been using the idea of a good shepherd to explain who He is, but the Jews weren’t getting it. When He said He and God were one, the Jews exploded and wanted to stone Him! Finally, His last defense was to point to the good things He had done, forgetting what He had said. Even then they refused to believe Him.

These verses shout out, “Actions speak louder than words!”  I may speak about love while displaying disinterest. I may speak about generosity and give sparingly. I may speak about kindness and respond with rudeness. I may expound on discipline and give in to desire.  I may shout out, “share Christ,” and walk in silent fear. Confession comes from the mouth, but action comes from the heart.  If I’m not living it, I’m not believing it!

Lord, this is a challenge for many of us who love to talk and understand much more than we practice. You know our hearts and minds, Jesus, continue to show us when our walk isn’t measuring up to our talk.  Continue your work in our hearts until both walk and talk are genuinely one in Christ. A slight twist on the idea of having the mind of Christ is … “Let this heart be in me which was in Christ Jesus!” Help us to grow in heart and mind in You!