The Joy of the Journey: Preach Preacher!

The Joy of the Journey

Preach Preacher!

In this week’s article, we will explore the impact our words, actions, and attitudes have in sharing the hope of Jesus with those around us.  In the book of James, we are reminded of the profound impact our words, actions, and attitudes have on those around us. James 1:22-24 in the ESV states, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.”  This powerful scripture highlights the importance of living out our faith through actions. It is not enough to speak about our beliefs. Instead, we are called to live out the teachings of Scripture in our day-to-day lives.

Did you know that everybody’s life is preaching a sermon?  It’s true, our words, actions, and attitudes are preaching a sermon. That sermon is either good or bad, positive or negative. Whatever that sermon is, someone is watching our life and listening to what we preach as children of God and followers of Christ.  Our friends, neighbors, husband, wife, children, and coworkers, you name it, are looking to see if what we claim matches what we live. We cannot think for one moment that our lives are not being watched.  You may not like it, I may not like it, but someone is seeing if we are practicing what we preach.

Our words hold immense power. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Therefore, we must be mindful of the words we speak, ensuring that they are filled with grace, kindness, and truth. Our words should edify, encourage, and uplift those around us, reflecting the love and compassion of Christ.  People are listening to how we speak to others. Do we build each other up or do we tear each other down?  Our words matter, and reflect directly on the faith that we have in Christ.

Similarly, our actions speak volumes about our faith. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus instructs us to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Our actions should reflect Christ’s love, demonstrating humility, generosity, and forgiveness to those we encounter.  How we treat each other does matter! How we treat our family, friends, coworkers, fellow students, and strangers matters.  Are our actions offering grace to those around us?  We should be quick to forgive, share, love, and support the people within our circles of influence.  Offering grace in the same manner we were given grace.

One of my favorite movies is Remember the Titans.  In the movie, where the team captain confronts Julius, the Captain tells him he has one of the worst attitudes he has ever seen. Julius stuns the captain when he looks at him and says, “…attitude reflects leadership, Captain.”  If we want to lead people to Christ, our attitude matters.  Furthermore, our attitudes are crucial in how we live out our faith. Philippians 2:5 urges us to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who humbled Himself and obediently followed the will of the Father. Our attitudes should be marked by humility, patience, and selflessness, mirroring the character of Jesus. This is one of the most challenging things to do. Our attitudes can reflect a lot about our character and our relationship with God.

In conclusion, may we be doers of the word, allowing our lives to preach a sermon of love, grace, and truth to all those around us. Our lives are preaching a sermon. There is no doubt.   As we strive through our words, actions, and attitudes, we must remember that we are not alone in this endeavor. Galatians 2:20 reminds us that it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are equipped to embody the teachings of Scripture and reflect the love of God. We must remember that our words, actions, and attitudes have the potential to lead others to Christ and glorify our Father in heaven.