4:133 – Will You Live Out Loud?
#faithbites #faithjourney live
Setting
No one has ever accused me if being quiet. Loud is a term that is applied to me and my kids quite regularly. So I m loud but am I living out loud?
I was inspired to write this while driving to pick up dinner and “Live Out Loud” by Steven Curtis Chapman came on the radio. Here are the opening lyrics to that song:
Imagine this… I get a phone call from Regis
He says, “Do you want to be a millionaire?”
They put me on the show and I win with two lifelines to spare
Now picture this… I act like nothin’ ever happened
And carry all my money in a coffee can
Well, I’ve been given more than Regis ever gave away
I was a dead man who was called to come out of my grave
And I think it’s time for makin’ some noise
Would you out your money in a coffee can or spend and share it? Now onto the questions.
Today’s Questions: How do you live out the gift Jesus gave you? Can you live our loud and be kind to all people?
Scripture
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Reflection
Our scriptures show two big concepts: faith and deeds. We know that our salvation is based on our faith and not on works. But that is the bottom line, our own salvation. Our faith isn’t based solely on that. If want to live as Christ lived, we need to reach out and live our faith which is demonstrated by good works.
From my experience, as we see in the scripture, we have people who perform deeds for attention and perceived faith, those who perform acts based on faith, and those who just perform acts. Have you seen each of those groups?
My personal rant here, I get angry with those who perform works by chastising others or rebuking without compassion. Those who scream at people who don’t live as they do. Those who march at clinics and yelling tear down others. This is not good work based on faith. Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. I know I need to be forgiving of those as I help them learn. (Sorry about the rant)
Our Savior is loving, kind, forgiving, and compassionate. As we do our works, we should keep those in mind. We should ask the question, What Would Jesus Do, and act accordingly. Buy someone a meal. Share your heart’s worth of kindness with them. Let Christ shine through how you love and treat them.
So yes, we can and should choose to live out loud. How that looks for each of us is different and that’s ok. We aren’t to judge, but to serve our God.
As we close, remember faith without works is dead. Let us have a living, breathing, learning, active faith.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you gave us passion for you and your Word. Sometimes, we get this wrong in how we react with others. Sometimes, we don’t even perform deeds for others and keep you to ourselves. We ask for your forgiveness.
Lord, help our faith be one of action, compassion, kindness, and love. Don’t let us get caught up in the ways of the world. We pray for your direction and help as we try to emulate you more and more every day. We pray all of this in your name, the highest of all, Amen.
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