Beyond Words To What We Do

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 8:23 am Post subject: Beyond Words To What We Do

Beyond Words To What We Do

Scripture:

And when he was come into Jerusalem, he essayed to join himself to the disciples; and they all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him; and how in Damascus he had dealt confidently in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out in Jerusalem, and dealing confidently in the name of the Lord. He spoke also to the Gentiles, and disputed with the Greeks; but they sought to kill him. Which when the brethren had known, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus. Now the church had peace throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; and was edified, walking in the fear of the Lord, and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:26-31)

My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth. In this we know that we are of the truth: and in his sight shall persuade our hearts. For if our heart reprehend us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Dearly beloved, if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence towards God: And whatsoever we shall ask, we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ: and love one another, as he has given commandment unto us. And he that keeps his commandments, abides in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us. (1 John 3:18-24)

I am the true vine; and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me, that bears not fruit, he will take away: and every one that bears fruit, he will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean by reason of the word, which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine: you the branches: he that abides in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

If any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burns. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you. In this is my Father glorified; that you bring forth very much fruit, and become my disciples. ( John 15:1-8 )

Reflection:

Paul was once the persecutor, now, he was among the persecuted. He was now with those filled with the Holy Spirit, the One sent to remind them of all which Jesus taught and to guide them in truth (John 14:26). Once powerful among those who did not believe in the One sent by the Father, Paul became steadfast for the One sent for the salvation of all. If we learn nothing else from Paul, we should learn that no matter our position, we may repent our sins and become His follower and advocate. This is our blessing and this is the good news of the Lord.

His call to us is to turn away from the seductions of the world and instead turn to live by His commandments to love Him and to love one another. We experience a world where evil seems to lurk behind every corner, but what we fail to understand is that the anxieties we face are of our making. When we turn from Him through our sin, He allows us to experience the world without Him. As we turn away from Him, we leave ourselves vulnerable to every evil and the consequences which follow.

He has given us the choice as to the world we may have, for if we live by His commandments to love, we would find the world to be a better place. It is our arrogance, our failings and our choice to walk without Him which leads us to experience the dark path. We make our choices from what we believe, but also by what we allow to fill our heart. If we believe in Him, He will shine through us, not by what we say, but by what we do. If we only allow Him to fill our tongue, we share but words; but if we invite Him to fill our heart, we share the blessings of love through which others may see, feel, experience and understand.

As we live by His commandments, then, we live by what is pleasing to Him. As we live by the world, we live by what becomes dark and painful. What we choose either brings us to Him or separates us from Him.

The Creator of life made us so that we may participate in His creation, that we may receive the greatest blessing of life, which is His love. As we choose to separate ourselves from Him, then, we should not be surprised when we do not experience His blessing or all which comes from His love.

To turn to Him, does not mean we do so only by what we say, but we demonstrate our belief in Him through what we do. If the fruits of our works are not consistent with His commandments to love, then, we do not demonstrate our belief in Him. If the fruits of our works are for selfish desires, then, we do not demonstrate our belief in Him. It is only when the fruits of our works demonstrate love of Him and one another that we demonstrate the fullness of our belief in Him.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier