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?
