Actions Speak

It is what we do that we remember, not what we hear about.

Do not be deceived, my beloved. Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. - James 1:16-27

James believed that our actions truly do speak louder than our words.

Our religion is played out in our actions.  

It was by reading James that I started to question how I was living into my faith.  Was I enough of a doer?

I had always believed that actions truly do speak louder than words, but I was doing neither.

I was not speaking about my faith, nor was I acting on it either.

So, James, for me, was a wake-up call.  

What are you doing with your life?

It is the doing that matters.  Maybe not for everyone, but it is for me.

I need to be actively engaged in the work of my faith in order to feel that the calling I have is being fulfilled.

For some, it may be different.

It depends on our gifts.  What God gives us to use in His service is different for each of us, and for the longest time, I thought my gift was to write.

But I have found that far more people pay attention to what I do than what I write.

So, I keep my words short and my actions long.

More to come...