Actions Speak Louder than Words

Actions speak louder than words.

The husband says, “I love you” to his wife…but then constantly belittles her.  The employee tells everyone, “I love my job.”  But what’s the message sent when they’re always late for work, and the little work done is sloppy?  The Christian says, “I love Jesus.”  But most Sunday mornings are filled with everything except Jesus, and the rest of the week is even more disconnected from God’s Word than the Sundays are.

Would anyone believe that husband, that employee or that Christian?  Not really.  And why is that?  It’s because actions speak louder than words.  Talk is cheap – and even meaningless – unless your talk also matches your walk.

God agrees.  23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.  These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me (John 14:23-24).

Every Christian is a work in progress.   And as we navigate our way through life, it’s important to not just say, “I love Jesus and I’m a Christian” but to also refuse making excuses for any sinfulness.  Are you brave enough to do that?  Are you ready to not just talk some Christian talk, but walk the Christian walk?  Are you ready to love Jesus with all your heart, in every area of your life, no matter how difficult it might seem to be?  Are you willing to let Jesus point out where sinful actions spoke louder than pious words?  Will you collapse into his forgiveness for every time your walk and talk didn’t match?  And are you committed to a new life, fully under his gracious care?

If this seems overwhelming, check out the end of v.23.  Don’t forget what is true about the Christian – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit actually come and make their home within that person’s soul!   What could be more confidence-boosting than that!

So be brave to live a repentant lifestyle.  Don’t just say hollow words.  Be sorry for your sins.  Be confident Jesus has washed it away.  Be joyful that the God who makes his home in your soul will take it from there!  For that person can’t help but have loving, Christian words and actions match.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, remind me that the battle for my soul is fierce.  Since others know that I am a Christian, help me to pay attention to the importance of my words and actions matching.  And when my sinful nature gets the best of me, lead me to deep repentance and your deep forgiveness, found only in your bloody cross and empty tomb.  Amen.