Words and Deeds

For the past month, I've been reading through the book of Acts. This morning I read the first part of Acts 14 where Paul and Barnabus go to Lystra and Derbe. While they are there, they perform miracles and heal people. The oblivious Lycaonians conclude that Paul and Barnabus must be the gods, Zeus and Hermes, who have come down in human form. So they decide to worship Paul and Barnabus and they rush off to offer sacrifices at the altars and temples of Zeus and Hermes.

But Paul and Barnabus stop them and plead with them, emphasizing that they are just regular men and the power that they have displayed is only because of the authority and power of the true living God.

This passage served as a stern reminder to me. When Tom and I got married, we had a ceremony in a church. It was a little more conventional and expected that we give testimony to what God had done in bringing us together as weddings are often "spiritual." But we strove and thought and planned out our wedding, not because mentioning God would be conventional, but because us getting married was truly a miracle and it was from God. We wanted to give Him the glory and honor through every part of our wedding so that all who were present could see God's hand. Without God, 1. neither Tom nor I would be alive and 2. we would most definitely not be married. It is only through God's grace that our personalities and paths were brought together. We are both far too stubborn to get through marriage without God giving us both humility.

That being said, we were purposeful in lifting up God as the great force behind the miracle of our marriage. But given the nature of weddings and the fact we got married in a church, it wasn't hard to bring Him to the center of the ceremony's focus.

What is hard is continuing to be mindful and intentional in the mundane moments of every day life.

First, we must strive to have the faith to act. Paul and Barnabus followed and obeyed God in going to Lystra and Derbe and performing miracles. I must be faithful and diligent in completing and working hard at the task God has put in front of me. Whatever work is set before me, I must do joyfully to the glory of God, no matter how difficult, tiring, or impossible it may seem. This is the first step of faith.

But this isn't enough. Too often, I want this to be enough. I want to do my good deeds, keep my head down, and keep my mouth shut. I reason that my actions are what is important and they will be enough to display who God is. I hide behind the quip "Share the Gospel. If necessary, use words."

This is wrong. The Bible says to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15). Paul and Barnabus didn't perform miracles, hope that was enough to direct people to Christ and then dust off their shoes to leave. No, they declared the source of their Power. They made sure that everyone knew that the only good they had, the only strength, the only hope, the only miracle was Christ.

I think about my own life and my own deeds and my own words (or lack thereof). Why would I ever want anyone to misconstrue my purpose for doing what I do? Why don't I boldly proclaim the reason for my actions the way the apostles did? What are we afraid of?