JULY 3, 2020 “DON’T TALK THE TALK IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO WALK THE WALK!”
James 1:22 – 24 “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other.” Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.” (The Message)
The couple came to us all enthused. “We really love your work in Ghana! We are definitely going to start helping you!” Over the years my husband and I have presented the needs of the mission hospital at which we serve to large numbers of people. Many times we have finished a presentation, only to have members of the audience come up and congratulate us on our work and promise that they are going to begin supporting it…… and many times that is the last that we hear from those people. If you were to ask the person who heard the presentation, they might tell you that they were preparing to help, or that they were nearly ready to help….. someday. But someday never comes.
There are people so in love with their features that they admire themselves every chance they get. Mirrors, store windows, anything that will give a reflection makes them happy. But why spend all that time looking at oneself? The problem is that as soon as such a person turns his or her head away, they forget what they look like. Only when they continue to gaze at their reflection can they remember their own features. James tells us that people who become enthused but who are quickly distracted are just like those who admire themselves in mirrors. No matter how many times a day they look at their reflections, they will immediately forget their features soon as they turn away. Appearances are fleeting.
There used to be a saying “Don’t talk the talk if you are unwilling to walk the walk!” There is also another saying: “Talk is cheap.” How do we become authentic?
James advises us to “Act on what you hear!” One of Satan’s favorite ploys is to agree that you should do something….. but not right now. “Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow!” is the refrain that Satan sings in our ears. We should NOT allow God’s Word to go in one ear and out the other. We should study God’s Word, memorize God’s Word, meditate on God’s Word, and act on God’s Word.
The Psalmist asks, “How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I’m single – minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted. I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.” (Psalm 119:9-11, The Message.)
Are you someone that people can trust, or are you someone who makes promises and never delivers? If we are to become authentic, we must have God’s help; otherwise, sooner or later, we will fail and disappoint those who were counting on us. If you claim to be a Christian, do you behave like one?
PRAYER: Father God, help us! We want to be authentic! We want to truly follow after you, but we are easily distracted. Lord, help us to get rid of everything that is keeping us from following hard after you. Help us to walk the walk, to follow where you lead us. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
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