Are You a Genuine Believer?

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” -St. Francis of Assisi. How many of us are quick to believe the word of God but slow to act on it? How many times have we paid lip service to the Gospel by showing the opposite through our actions? We have all been guilty of this at some point but when we continually fail to exemplify the teachings of the Bible through our actions, we only do ourselves and the Word a disservice.

1 Peter 1:7-9:  These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

If we want to truly experience God’s infinite peace and joy, we must be genuine believers and doers of the Word. This means that our beliefs should be weaved into the fabric of our daily lives.

James 1:22: Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says

As a responsible Christian believer, it is not enough to hear and believe the Word. It should take root in our hearts and bear fruit by our own words and actions. It baffles me to hear Christians tout their beliefs and quote scriptures but choose to do “what’s practical or makes the most sense” to them when it comes to the decisions they make or how they live their life. As Christians honoring God by our words and actions, there should be no separation of our biblical values and our everyday life.   When we strive to live this way, we will reap the blessings that come with this obedience.

Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Are you preaching the Gospel at all times through your actions?