“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Eph 4:1-2 (NIV)
What does a life worthy of the calling you have received look like? It looks like humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance in action. It is not enough to know to do right. You must place into action what you know. Application is the activation of faith. Notice how Jesus describes such a life.
- “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matt 7:24-27 (NIV)
Jesus authenticates that hearing God’s Word is not enough. You must put feet to your faith by putting into practice God’s Word. Application determines whether you are building on sand or on the rock. James affirms the teaching of Christ.
- “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17 (NIV)
Is your faith dead or alive? Take a close look at your conduct both in private and in public. What does your conduct declare about your faith? Are you obeying what you know? Is your conduct consistent with the character of Christ?
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
0 replies on “Conduct”
Many religions and even evangelical ministries tend to measure effectiveness by externals. In the parable mentioned about building on sand or rock there doesn’t appear to be any real differences between the external appearances of the two houses. The only difference was beneath the surface, the hidden foundation, which Jesus declared was our obedience.
Today’s evangelicals have been seduced by the idea that bigger is always better. However, a very large house can be built on a very unstable foundation and go undetected until tested by extreme circumstances. We need discernment. Not everything big is bad, but neither is it always good. Don’t trust appearances. Learn to dig around the walls and see what’s really holding everything up.
Hey pastor, make friends with the quiet folks. The guy that isn’t seeking to impress you all the time may have a very solid foundation. He will be standing with you when the storm comes.
just random thoughts from an old friend.