You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time…
- Acts 20:17
The Christian life is not about talking a good game. Our lifestyle must reflect what we believe. Those around take notice. This life of faith is about experiencing the grace and power of God through Christ and living in surrender. Saying christian things is not enough. (By christian things, I mean cliches and nice sounding but weak - or meaningless - religious platitudes).
Paul writes, "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power,” (1 Corinthians 4:20). James put it this way; "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? ...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." (James 4:14-16).
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”
― Brennan Manning
There is an important distinction, and we must understand this; we do not do Christian things in attempt to prove ourselves acceptable to God. We are already accepted. Christ has seen to that through his cross. (Re-read the last two sentences as many times as it takes to sink in). We live the Christian life as children who are pleasing to their father; and that is freeing.
The Christian things we say and do (which better match up), we say and do not to gain acceptance from God or others. We say them and do them from a positional security. We are children of God. There is a difference in motivation that boils down to the opposites of fear and faith - and that gulf is wider than the Grand Canyon.
The Apostle Paul was attacked and accused from every direction throughout his ministry recorded in the book of Acts. Ultimately, he could make the statement, "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time..."
Can we say the same?
God, you give me life, and I am free to live with you and for you.
For now...
D
