For 2 decades, ecologist Mike Hands has worked to help farmers in
Central America adopt more effective methods of growing their crops. It’s
difficult, however, for them to abandon their long tradition of “slash and
burn” agriculture, even though they know it destroys the soil and pollutes the
air.
So instead of merely talking to them, Mike shows them a better way. In
the documentary film Up in Smoke, he says: “It has to be demonstrated.
You cannot preach it. You can’t describe it. People have got to be able to get
their hands on it and see it.”
Paul took a similar approach to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. He
wrote to the believers in Corinth, “My speech and my preaching were not with
persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of
power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of
God” (1 Cor. 2:4-5). Later in his letter, Paul told them again, “The kingdom of
God is not in word but in power” (4:20).
As you live each day, ask God to help you accompany your words with
actions. When we allow God to show Himself through us, it’s a powerful
demonstration of His grace and love.
Our words need actions behind them. (RBC)
