God Requires MORE THAN LIP SERVICE

Chapter 4
Let Your Walk Match Your Talk

I am inspired by athletes, movie stars and others who, during interviews, acknowledge God for the role He played in their success. I think, wow, what an opportunity to magnify and display God in His awesomeness. The letdown comes when that same person who blessed God with one breath then uses His name in vain with the next breath through profane words and negative behaviors. What message does that send to nonbelievers? What message does it send to weak believers that are looking to justify their own behaviors that teeter between holy and unholy? What honor and respect does it really give God? Yes, we should give God the recognition and glory for all that He does for us, but it is our godly behavior that strengthens the testimony. God is more concerned about our walk than our talk. This simply confirms that everyone that talks about God does not belong to and will not necessarily enter His kingdom; only those who do the will of God (Matthew 7:21). Revelation 3:16 reminds us that because we are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, we make God sick to the point of vomiting us out. James 3:10-11 states, “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brother, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet and bitter?” We must consider our ways.
As Christians, we seek out other people who are Christians. We are intrigued by religious bumper stickers, tee shirts, or a cross worn around a neck. What a major disappointment when that same person displaying the Christian symbol(s) has behavior that is contrary to the meaning of the symbol. How does a person wear a “Relax God is in Control” tee-shirt use profanity towards somebody for cutting them off or for looking at them wrong? If, according to the bumper sticker or license plate, “God is My Co-Pilot,” then maybe that explains why one might put up the middle finger suggesting obscenity because a person was driving too slowly in front of them or because they received the wrong food order in the drive-through line. My suggestion is that you switch seats because God is not leading. God doesn’t want to be second in command of anything. He doesn’t want to be pulled out of the box like a puppet at our convenience when our church members or pastor are watching because we want to impress. God, Himself, is watching. He deserves to take the lead and we should want Him to. When situations like this occur, it not only questions the character of the person displaying the Christian paraphernalia, but it makes a nonbeliever question the authenticity of God.
Someone is always watching everything we say, do, and wear. With all of the technology that is available, it is almost inevitable that someone has an eye, and probably a camera on us. Images of us will always be on the minds of the beholder…and maybe other beholders on many cellphones…Facebook, Snapchat, and Tweeter across the World Wide Web. We must be mindful of what impression and legacy we leave behind. It’s difficult to erase a negative personal image and harder, still, to erase an online footprint. As a Christian, God rewards us for every good deed and soul we win for Him. He also holds us accountable for every soul that is hindered by our negative and sinful behavior. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3).” This lets us know that even if no one else is watching, God is!
We must be watchful of ourselves. Matthew 26:41 specifically tells us to watch and pray so that we do not enter into temptation because the spirit is willing but the flesh that we live in is weak. We must be mindful that Satan listens intently to what we are talking about. He waits for us to witness and brag on our God, then he preys on those who are vocal for the cause of Christ. His determination and goal is to destroy our Christian reputation and to make God look bad. We must be vigilant in our watch so that we don’t fall victim to the schemes of the enemy. Often we are on alert for the obvious or “big” sins…adultery, fornication, lying, murder, backbiting, stealing, etc. We are reminded that it’s the “little foxes” that hinder growth and eventually destroy the vineyards if we’re not watchful (Song of Solomon 2:15). These little foxes are sins of the spirit. These sins are usually the ones we justify as being who we are or how we were raised. They have been an intricate part of us and are difficult to detect, much less change. They include the wrong things we think, the wrong things we say and the wrong things we do.