Prove Yourself

12 Aug

“Actions prove who someone is, words just prove who they pretend to be.”  ~ Unknown

Perhaps today’s quote is nothing more than a variation of “actions speak louder than words”; but, it is an important reminder to us nonetheless.  Words are meaningless if they are not backed by action.  We could, after all, claim to be believers.  We could claim to be loving.  We could claim to be merciful.  But if we do not live as people of faith, if we do not love, and if we do not forgive, we are blatant liars.

There are challenges throughout the Old and New Testament books against those who lie.  Liars and deceivers constantly were called out by the prophets.  Jesus even talked about what would happen to us if our lives of deception led the innocent astray.  It won’t be a pretty picture, that’s for sure.

What is wrong with liars?  Why do people lie?  I think it is because they are so insecure.  They want others to believe that they are better than others.  They construct this false world with themselves at the center of it.  Liars are lonely and confused people, though, because it takes so much energy to keep their lies together.  They have to remember what they told to whom and how the stories developed.  Any mistake could rip their lies apart.  Living like this makes one feel hollow.  There is a cure for that hollow feeling though: the truth.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  If we live in Jesus, we will always desire to live in His Truth.  His truth illumines the mind and the heart and gives us the grace that we need to be His people.  The truth might be painful; but, only the truth can set us free.

What are some of the truths that liars try to avoid?

  • We are all sinners.
  • None of us deserves salvation.
  • None of us deserves heaven.
  • None of us deserves God’s love.

It is not on our own merit that these things are made available to us.  It is only through the love of God that we are forgiven and called home.

The sooner we realize that we cannot manufacture our own redemption, the sooner we can begin to live God’s holy truth.

FAITH ACTION:  By your actions today, prove yourself to be a believer in Christ Jesus, our Lord.