If you
take a course on writing or attend a writer’s conference, you’ll likely hear
the phrase, “Show, don’t tell.” In other words, “show” your readers what is
happening, don’t just tell them. Don’t tell readers what you did; describe
doing it.
One of
the reasons we tend to tell rather than show is that it’s easier and faster.
Showing how to do something requires time and effort. In teaching, it’s easier
to tell students what’s wrong with what they did than to show them how to do it
right. The
latter, however, is more effective.
For
thousands of years, the Jewish people had only the law telling them what to do
and what not to do. But then came Jesus Christ, who showed them how to live the
life God had been telling them about all along. Jesus didn’t just say, “Be
humble”; He “humbled Himself” (Phil. 2:8). He didn’t just say, “Forgive
others”; He forgave us (Col. 3:13). He didn’t just say, “Love God and your
neighbors”; He demonstrated love by His actions (John 15:12).
Christ’s perfect example of love shows how great God’s love is for us and how we are to show His love to others.
