Friday, March 28, 2008

Talk is Cheap

Here is my thought for today...

Inspired by this verse: "If people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them." James 2:14

After reading this verse I got to thinking...we are taught that we are not saved by our works, but by our belief that Christ is our savior and died on a cross to save us from our own sin. We are saved by the cross. This is true. It is a fact and you cannot dispute it. God does not love us more or less because of what we do or don't do. That is a difficult reality for me to wrap my mind around. NO MATTER WHAT, there is NOTHING we could do to make Him ever love us less. I think the closest love to that, that we can understand is the love for our own children. We often tell Luke even when we are upset about something he has done that we could never love him any less and we love him despite the wrong things he does. Christ is the same. He is our Heavenly Father and he loves us even MORE than that which to me is unfathomable.

So it is true if we truly believe, our salvation is a done deal. I think though that often times we use that as a "cop-out" Since our salvation is locked up we don't have to DO anything else. James shows us however in this verse that this is NOT the case. We cannot be saved by our good works, but it seems to me that if we are TRULY saved, we should do good works because of our salvation. So much has already been done for us, we should want to use our lives to do great things for others. We don't earn grace for the good things we do, but we do good things BECAUSE of God's grace.

So I ask today that you do something kind for someone today. Imagine if everyone who reads this blog just went out and did one kind thing for someone else. (Our counter shows an average of 700 - 800 people check in here each day.) Even something as simple as holding a door for a mom who is trying to get into a store with a stroller (one of the things that makes my day as a mom with a stroller). We are supposed to be the body of Christ. Let's get those hands helping and feet moving. Talk is cheap folks. The best way to share the love of Christ is to pour it out onto others. So think of this today when you are waiting in line at the store and it is taking forever. Give a kind smile to the cashier who is fumbling...you just might make their day! Isn't that what Jesus would want?

We have been given so much. Shouldn't we also give back as much as we can in return? Words are great but giving of our lives is much more valuable!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love how you are using your time of grief as a time to reflect on life and how we can live it to the fullest. Thanks for the wonderful ideas about how to help others. You inspire me.

Kim (marygracesummons.blogspot.com) said...

You have a beautiful heart Kristy. I am praying for you.
Love,
Kim

Anonymous said...

I agree! It is amazing how good one can feel about doing something nice for someone, plus the person you help feels wonderful. I tell all three of my kids each morning before they go to school to let people see Jesus in them.
Thank you for today's entry. Amy

Anonymous said...

Kristy,

Amen to that! If we all could just slow down enough to notice those who could benefit from an act of kindness..a reaching out...a kind word...wouldn't life be richer? Those being "noticed" could feel love and those reaching out could feel the warmth of a good deed. Again, amen to that!

You are doing your part, Kristy. Your words have lifted my heavy heart..on more than one occassion. Just to know that others care gives mileage to may...especially when that "mileage" is offered up by unfamiliar faces..

God bless you!
Trisha Jurgemeyer

Anonymous said...

Kristi you are so amazing, I know that it is with God's help because you too are helping me deal with the loss of my baby. Thanks for the encouragement.
Love,
Tiffany(proudmom2105)

Hilary Marquis said...

Wow! You are right in so many ways. Sometimes we forget that we have a job to DO. We are supposed to be salt and light. Thank you for using this blog as a way to minister to those that may be hurting. May God bless you.

Emily said...

You are so right! Thanks for this beautiful reminder.

Kenzie said...

Great post... that is what we are supposed to be right? The HANDS and FEET of Christ?! Especially now with so many others serving our family (and I would guess yours too)... giving back should be easy... and not because it's done for me by others, but because it's done for me by Christ.

Love you and LOVE the reminder!

Have a beautiful weekend!
Kenzie

Melissa Dovel said...

Oh (((Kristy)))-
What an awesome message and confirmation that you are hearing from the Lord. We could all stand no matter what we "already do" to truly make a sacrifice to extend kindness to another. I agree with you I feel that the only way the Lord can kinda sorta show us His love for us is by our children. Its so huge and oh so comforting. It pleases us to see our children do things with excellency and that should be all of our missions daily to please our Father with serving another with excellency!
You are doing just that:) Bless you my friend & sister and I pray for the Lord to continue to fill you with His promises and truth so that you feel held and comforted:)

In His Perfect Love,
Melissa

Jennifer said...

Thank you so much for this reminder. This was something I really needed to read today.