The Proof is in the Living
1 John 2:3-6 “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
Actions speak louder than words. The truth of what we say is evidenced in how we live. Someone can say “I’m a runner, I love to run!” But if you never see them actually running, you might question the truth of that statement. Someone might tell you they’re on a diet, but if you see them eating anything and everything all the time (not just on a special occasion, which is totally understandable…) you may question whether they really are on a diet. If someone tells you they are a rancher, but they have no ranch, no cows or horses, and live in the city, you likely would question the truth of the statement, or wonder if there is something you’re just not seeing.
Our relationship with Christ and the authenticity of our faith is evidenced by the life we live. The Jews in Biblical times were driven to follow the law of Moses without wavering and the care they took to do so was powerful. The Pharisees were so driven, they took it upon themselves to monitor how those around them upheld the law. So when an expert in the law asked Jesus, ‘what is the greatest commandment”, there was much at stake for the listeners...and for Jesus. It was a baited question.. And what was Jesus’ response? Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 Love God, love others. The two greatest commands.
Are we living in such a way that we demonstrate this? Do our lives reflect Jesus’ presence? Friends, we might find that loving God isn’t difficult, but loving others, ALL others, goes against our grain. God didn’t tell us to withhold love or only offer it to those who are deserving. He tells us to love ALL others. No, this doesn’t mean we approve of lifestyles and actions that are not in line with His word. But it tells us to love them despite those things (isn’t that what God did for us?!) And what is love? It’s not a feeling, friends. Love is an action. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal…If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1,3) Unless we act and are driven by love, we are just ‘noise’ that the world drowns out. Our actions and words must be motivated by our love for Christ and be demonstrated in our love for others.
So, how should this look? Well, look at how love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love doesn’t brag or boast (it’s not about itself...it’s looking to the needs of others)
Love is not arrogant or proud
It doesn’t dishonor others (If we love Jesus, we will not dishonor others, even if they think, act or live differently than we)
Love is not self-seeking
Love isn’t easily angered
Love doesn’t keep a record of wrongs- (no grudge list)
Love doesn’t delight in evil (even if we think the ‘other’ deserved it, Jesus loves them, we should too)
Love rejoices with the truth
Love protects
Love trusts
Love hopes
Love perseveres.
The proof of our faith is in how we live and love. If we love Jesus, our lives will reflect these qualities as we interact with others. Not just the ‘others’ who think like us or with whom we feel comfortable. ALL others. We need to be different. “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” It seems far too often, believers respond with anger, with harsh words, with venomous retorts that only serve to anger others and show no difference between us and the world. But what if, what if we responded with the love-inspired qualities above? How might the world respond?
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are convicted to love the Lord their God with all their heart and love others in a godly way as well. Pray that they obey his word, and that love for God is truly made complete in them. Pray they would live, and love, as Jesus did.
“Lord, I pray that You would transform us, even today. May the way we live and treat others be a true reflection of Jesus, not of the Pharisees who held themselves in high regard and were quick to judge and berate others. Lord, help us live in humble obedience to You and Your commandments.. Help us to love You and Your Word with all of our being so that our thoughts and actions reflect Jesus well. Help our words and actions to be different from those of the world. I pray for (name) today. Let them be consumed with love for You and a compelling desire to obey Your Word. Help them shine their light so that others see Jesus in them. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
When ‘Knowing’ isn’t Enough
2 Peter 1:9-11 “But whoever does not have them [the qualities in vs. 5-8] is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
So, what if our son or daughter is indifferent to their need for spiritual growth? Does it matter? If they’re saved, that’s the most important thing, right? Well, friends, that may be our way of assuaging our own concerns and worries about where they really stand with the Lord. Yes, it’s vitally important that our loved ones have a personal relationship with Jesus, but it’s more than that. If they DO have a relationship with the Lord, they need to pursue growth, deepen their understanding and grow in their knowledge of Him and His word.
Think about someone you love dearly. You don’t just count ‘knowing’ that person as good enough for a relationship. No, you want to spend time with them, know them more, learn their deepest thoughts and dreams. You enjoy spending time with them and you find that you miss them when they’re not near. Friends, that’s a relationship with Jesus! We should be falling in love with Him more and more each day.
We don’t want our sons and daughters to be nearsighted or blind to what that spiritual relationship needs to be. If ‘knowing’ Jesus is all they have, they likely do not have a saving relationship with Him. James 2:17-19 says “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” Yes, even the demons believe. That should give us pause.
The bottom line here is that there must be fruit. A fruitless life is a life without Christ. Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters begin making an honest, committed effort to pursue the heart of Jesus. Let’s pray for fruit that gives evidence that they are a believer who is growing in their walk with the Lord. Pray that they would not stumble. Pray that they would be counted as one worthy to escape all that is coming on this earth and would stand before Jesus, richly welcomed, as one of His own.
Pray without ceasing.
Imitators
Ephesians 5:1-2 “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Our children played all sorts of games and make-believe when they were little. Pretending was something that stretched their imagination and could keep them busy for hours. As they grew and began to notice the world around them, sometimes they would imitate what they saw, whether good or bad. They didn’t have knowledge and discretion, nor did they have context for some of the things they would imitate. Their imitation was a form of learning about the world around them and pretending they were someone or something else.
Fast-forward to the teenage years and imitation began to be founded on the response they would get from others. They might choose to imitate someone who was popular or ‘pretty’ so they, too, could receive approval. Or perhaps they were sullen or defiant and the ones they chose to imitate gave that same reflection of rebellion and anger. Whatever the imitation, it was almost always for approval from others and for effect. They chose to follow someone who had the image they craved and the life they desired. But their imitation was creating an image that wasn’t genuine or authentic to our sons and daughters. It was an effort to be someone or something else because, in their eyes, that was better.
Now that our sons and daughters are grown, authenticity is a valued character quality. This world doesn’t like ‘posers’- those who claim to be something that they’re not. As believers, we don’t just wear the label ‘Christian’ it is who we are, how we think, what we value and it’s the foundation of our world-view. We are called to be imitators of God so that everything we say and do reflects His presence in our lives. It’s not a ‘trying to be someone else’ it’s striving to be what God calls us to be. It’s an effort to be more like Jesus. He is the example we are to follow and when we seek to be more like Him, our whole self is steadily transformed into who He desires us to be. It’s a stripping away of the ‘fake’ and the old self so that our new, transformed heart and mind can be visible to those around us. It’s a transformation into authenticity not a shadowing into an image of something else. (and we know what God says about images…. they are idols, false gods that steal our attention, joy and the glory that is meant for God alone.)
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are imitators of God. Pray that they are not distracted or lured by popular culture. Pray that they don’t seek the approval and affirmation of the world. That’s a total deception of Satan and will lead to destruction, depression and devastation. It’s only when we choose to imitate God that we flourish. Pray for strong flourishing in our sons and daughters today!!
Pray without ceasing.