Be Real
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Those who listen to the word but do not do what it says are like people who look at their faces in a mirror 24 and, after looking at themselves, go away and immediately forget what they look like. 25 But those who look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continue in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
-James 1:22-25
I believe we were all made to make a difference. However, we have been inundated by "reality" TV, ads that don't keep promises, never mind politicians, pastors and other public servants who say one thing and do another. The most powerful words in the world, God's Word, are rendered impotent by hypocrisy.
I heard a story about a pastor walking with a soap salesman, and the salesman was ripping on Christianity. As they walked through an inner city park, he asked the pastor, "How can you say that Christianity works when you see all kinds of derelicts, drugs and prostitutes. Don't get me started about divorce, disease, war, and all the problems around the world. Just look around, it's not working.
They walked in silence for a few moments, and the pastor said, "You're a soap salesman, right?"
"Yes, of course."
"Is it good soap?"
"It's the best soap on the market."
The pastor pointed to a little boy covered in the park and said, "This boy is covered in dirt and grime. Doesn't your soap work for him?"
The salesman said, "Well, you have to apply the soap."
The pastor's response was, "So it is with the Christian faith, you must apply it for it to work."
Is your walk as strong as your talk? What areas of your faith you need to apply God's word?
On the journey together,
Ryan