1.7.14 In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses and sins) in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor. Ephesian 1:7
"Let your behavior and your beliefs tell the same story." -Chip Ingram
Ouch, that's a pretty strong rebuke there. But when I heard Pastor Ingram say that years ago, I wrote it down in my Bible so that I could remember it and be reminded to do just that.
Too often I've been guilty of NOT letting my behavior and what I felt like I truly believed in my heart tell the same story. When I'd lose my temper with my husband, I'd hear that still small voice saying, "a soft answer turns away wrath" but I'd just keep on trying to make my point by raising my voice.
Or when fear would creep in I'd allow it to keep me up at night instead of giving it to God cuz He's up all night and doesn't need to sleep, but I do!
Also there were things that I was doing like smoking, drinking, seeing R rated movies and hanging out with people who were not encouraging me in my walk with The Lord, in fact I was being led back into the "world" by being around them. I know as Christians we are free to do whatever we want, go ahead and smoke, you won't go to Hell for smoking, you just might make it to Heaven quicker. Go ahead and drink, but remember you have, if you are a professing Christian, people who are watching you and your freedom to drink may be a stumbling block to them, or they may think it's ok, however, they may be that one that becomes addicted which causes them a lifetime of misery, rehabs, loses etc. Go ahead and see those movies with all the nudity and bad language, you are free to do so, but remember what you see and hear goes into your soul. Go ahead and see those movies that promote violence and irreverence towards certain people, all which God specifically teaches against.
When you reread the verse above, we realize we do have the forgiveness of our sins, past present and future, because of His great grace, so why would you want to do things that are displeasing to God, like not caring properly for your body by putting in things that are bad for it whether it be food, alcohol, images or thoughts and thereby cheapening the grace of God?
Oh yes, His grace covers us, we are still loved by Him but isn't that the reason to let your behavior and your beliefs tell the same story? To say to God, because You love me and I say I love you, I want to live more like You'd have me to live...a life that says I'm devoted to You. I won't be a stumbling block to someone because I love you and I love them more than my freedom to do whatever it is that would cause them to stumble. Because Jesus never looked at a woman and had impure thoughts, I won't look at women like that. Because Jesus' words are truth and life, I will speak in a way that is encouraging and not coarse and harsh.
Love is truly never having to say you are sorry because you don't do, out of love, anything that looks like you don't. 7/365
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