LIP Service : Words & Deeds

(Mat 15:8) These people honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

 

Jesus is talking about the double standards of His children contrary to His nature "He is the same yesterday, today and forever". Many a times we are fluent in praising God, making a good prayer, talking highly about the blessings of God.. But in reality our hearts are far away from God...

He is a God who fulfils His promises and He expects the same nature from His children.. Are you His Child? If so, please analyse your life, your words, your attitude and lifestyle..

The way we live before others, the words we speak to others, the way we look and handle things, matters a lot to God. We have only two eyes. But thousand eyes are watching us.. Our Life has to be a testimony showing God's glory and nature, eventually motivating others to start following Him.

Words are the outward expression of our inner self. The thoughts  inside our heart comes out as words. What we believe is reflected in our action. Check whether there is synergy between our words & deeds,  beliefs & action. If not, that shows we are compromising in one or more areas of Life, which will be disastrous to our Hope of having eternal Life. Let's analyse our life based on the following three points.

1. Lifestyle:
   1. Every available resource of this world is given by God for our comfortable day to day living. He expects us to use it judicially and properly. One side there is hue & cry on Resource shortage, Price rise, Hunger, Inflation etc..On the other hand, people are wasting these resources by their lavish spending or ignorant and careless lifestyle or laziness. Just think of your work place and home.. How many times the Tube lights and Fans or AC is ON when there is no one in the room.
   2. We are talking about poverty alleviation but we are wasting food indiscriminately, justifying the same by our wealth, status or money power. Rs.10 saved is equivalent to Rs.20 earned. "Live and let others Live" is a popular saying.. By wasting things, actually we are robbing somebody else's blessings. 
   3. We are accountable to God for our Lifestyle, the usage of every God-given resources including time.. Let's "walk the talk and talk the walk" for others to follow.. Instead of waiting for others, let's take the initiatives to bring about a change.
2. Words:
   
   1. How clean are you in your words? Many Christian believers & church goers are known for their double standards in speaking.. It starts with praising God inside the Church and teasing others outside the church. They worship God by speaking in unknown tongues inside the church but curse the brethren in known tongues outside the church.. What a testimony? Can a tree produce sweet as well as bitter or poisonous fruit? Can a well give both good water & spoilt water?
   2. Do you keep up your words or promises made? Are you known for giving empty promises? Don't give promises for the sake of satisfying others or to escape from a troubled situation. Learn to be honest. It you are at fault, be polite and humble to accept it.. Words given out can never be taken back..
   3. Are you a person who is known for flattering? Sweet words like honey from the lips but heart full of poison?. "Outside butter but inside gutter".When you flatter, you are telling a lie. God is watching over you. Jesus said, "Let your YES be YES and NO be NO. Anything beyond these comes from the evil one". Be careful about what you speak. Bible says we have to give account for every single word that we speak in this world.
   4. Can others trust you for your integrity and honesty? Does your word hold good all the time? Do your family, friends, colleagues & others believe in your words? If not, examine why? As children of God we should be known for straightforward living and truthful words. Our God is a God of truth; we should also be like HIM.
   5. Words can build as well as destroy. What sort of a person are you? Someone who encourages others, motivates others & appreciate even the smallest service done by others OR a person who is always a critic filled with words of demotivation finding fault with others?
   6. We talk a lot about helping the needy, poverty eradication, corruption etc.. But when we come across someone who is really in need, we ignore them..OR most of the times we are ignorant of the needs of our neighbours, own family members, friends, colleagues etc.. Then what is the use of loud talking when we ourselves don't lend a helping hand?
3. Attitude:
   
   1. Our God is the God of Creation. He makes things new and His mercies are new every morning. He loves every one. He doesn't discriminate people by their education, colour, caste or creed. But, how about you? What sort of attitude do you have towards others?
   2. Do you adopt different standards for different people, particularly while showing the love of God and care for others?
   3. Do you have a TIT for TAT attitude? Jesus said, "Forgive others, Love your enemies and help them in time of need". This may be difficult, but, this is essential in Christian Living. Jesus did that. He forgave his persecutors and so we are also expected to do so.
   4. Don't be negative minded. Be a person of positive attitude. Personally you may be weak. But, with Christ you can do all things. He is there to help you and to lift you up.
   5. Don't compare your life and your situation with that of others. All believers have to carry their own cross. Your cross need not be the same as that of another person..Let your eyes be fixed only on JESUS..He will not let you down.

The same is also true when it comes to dealing with the Lord..

• We make a long prayer using many vain words; but after we finished the prayer, we don't even remember most of what we prayed about.
• We make many commitments and then promptly forget them. Then how are we to put them into practice?
• We testify about God but our Life has no godliness; Only if we apply our heart into Godliness we can start living a life of Holiness.
• We have to be a living testimony..Witnessing is not only about standing up and testifying to others.. It is all about living..

 

More than our words, our day to day life matters the most...

Analyse your life... Come back to God.. Start making a difference

Let there be synergy between our words and deeds..

Don't do lip service to God. But be a true worshipper from your heart through your Living..