September 2, 2018

Actions Reveal Heart

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” – Mark 7:14-15

One man loudly proclaims his faith in God. He let’s everyone know he attends church. He even talks about the Bible. Yes, he loves to talk about Christian morals and values.

Unfortunately, his words don’t quite reflect his actions. He has had numerous affairs and is now on his third marriage. He routinely lies. He condemns anyone who dares to disagree with him and “leads” others by bullying and threatening them.

Another man also says he’s a Christian. He quietly attends church, though not with any regularity. He refuses to engage in religious debate. He doesn’t respond when naysayers insist he isn’t really a man of faith.

He works diligently to help the poor, the sick, the immigrants. He is quick to do handyman projects for his elderly neighbor, throw a football with a fatherless-child, or buy a meal for a man out of work. He is a man of integrity, a man who tries to do good even when it costs him friends and allies.

Which of the two men is truly a Christian? Is it the man who loudly proclaims his faith but lives as someone who doesn’t know Jesus? Or is it the man who refuses to boast of his faith but spends his days quietly doing good and loving people the way Jesus would?

None of us can ever truly know another man’s heart. Only God can look inside and see what’s really there. Our only true indication comes from the actions of those around us. What we see is a reflection of what’s inside.

We love to look at the outside and judge, don’t we? We see someone who regularly attends church and proclaim that he is a fine Christian. We ignore his racist rantings, his derogatory comments about women, and his tightly clenched fist when it comes to the poor.

We commend the woman who organizes food for a bereaved family. We consider her faithful service with children. We look at her husband, her children, her grandchildren and “know” that she is a fine Christian woman. We look past her tendency to gossip and spread rumors and lies. We laugh about her excessive spending habits. We brush aside how easily she judges those who don’t have designer clothes or a fine house.

What would happen if we considered the heart rather than loud proclamations of faith? What would it mean if we looked at actions rather than words before we proclaimed someone a “fine Christian”?

Being a person of faith, living a life for Jesus, isn’t about the surface. It’s about the heart. We go through the motions but do we feel it deep inside? Are we truly changed by what Jesus has done for us? Or are we merely answering questions correctly without ever trying to live a different life?

It’s an uncomfortable thought. We like to stay where we are, with the people we know, in the place that makes us feel safe. But true safety only comes in the arms of Jesus and He has never called us to stand on the sidelines while so many people are lost and hurting.

The sad truth is we don’t want to get dirty. We don’t want to change. We don’t want to look in the mirror and see our own sins glaring back at us. It’s just so much easier to stay on our lofty pedestal and point fingers at those who don’t quite measure up to our standards.

Do you spend your days judging others or humbly begging forgiveness from God? Do you waste time gossiping or do you spend that time praying and studying God’s Word? Faith isn’t about what you proclaim; it’s about what you do. Faith isn’t about textbook answers; it’s about your heart. Your actions reflect what’s inside. What do your actions say about you?