The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Titus 1:16,
"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him."
People can say whatever it is they want. Often, for whatever reason, what is being said is not so. It has always been that way in the church from apostolic times. Here Paul tells Titus that there are those who claim to know God, but what they do tells another story. What we do validates, authenticates what it is we have to say. The reality is that our actions prove our words.
The church, from its earliest times, has had those within its ranks (those who really are not believers) that deceive, that are dishonest, that tell lies and teach things that have no bearing in truth. Here we see them on the Island of Crete that Titus will have to deal with.
John had to deal with these kinds of folks within the church as well. "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." 1 John 2:18-19. John goes on to say in verses 26-27, "I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him." John tells his readers the same truth Paul did to Titus, that actions speak louder than words. He says, "If you know that he [Jesus Christ] is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him." Verse 29.
Look at what people do - it can verify their words.
This is pretty much the basis for what James has to say about the kind of faith that brings us into God's family. Faith that expresses itself in the things we do is the kind of faith that saves us. He 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." James 2:17-18.
The validation of God's expression of his wonderful love for us is found in the things he has done. In considering the death of the Son of God on that cross Paul says, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8.
Our actions prove our words. If this be true, and if I say I love God, how did I demonstrate that this past week in the things I did? In the past 168 hours, how did my actions prove, validate, authenticate, the love I claim to have for God?
A sobering question, isn't it?
People can say whatever it is they want. Often, for whatever reason, what is being said is not so. It has always been that way in the church from apostolic times. Here Paul tells Titus that there are those who claim to know God, but what they do tells another story. What we do validates, authenticates what it is we have to say. The reality is that our actions prove our words.
The church, from its earliest times, has had those within its ranks (those who really are not believers) that deceive, that are dishonest, that tell lies and teach things that have no bearing in truth. Here we see them on the Island of Crete that Titus will have to deal with.
John had to deal with these kinds of folks within the church as well. "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." 1 John 2:18-19. John goes on to say in verses 26-27, "I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him." John tells his readers the same truth Paul did to Titus, that actions speak louder than words. He says, "If you know that he [Jesus Christ] is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him." Verse 29.
Look at what people do - it can verify their words.
This is pretty much the basis for what James has to say about the kind of faith that brings us into God's family. Faith that expresses itself in the things we do is the kind of faith that saves us. He 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." James 2:17-18.
The validation of God's expression of his wonderful love for us is found in the things he has done. In considering the death of the Son of God on that cross Paul says, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8.
Our actions prove our words. If this be true, and if I say I love God, how did I demonstrate that this past week in the things I did? In the past 168 hours, how did my actions prove, validate, authenticate, the love I claim to have for God?
A sobering question, isn't it?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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