“Every healthy tree bears good fruit…
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven…
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.'” Matthew 7:17a,21,24-27
“‘What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.'” Matthew 21:28-30
“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
“But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:15-18
Jesus was masterful in His teaching to uncover people’s hearts. By illustration in instruction and His own life, He taught that the potency of words is proved in their doing. The Lord thinks little of lip-service, but makes much of those that come to life in earnest, genuine, selfless, fruitful living. Indeed, faith shows itself in faithful work.
The word of God is serious about words, making clear it’s important to say what we mean and mean what we say. God’s breathed book exposes the intent and meaning behind our words to Him and others. He intends that we are careful not only to study and know His word, but to consider our own. What we say and profess as important must be matched by what we do. (John 1:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)
Words find meaning not in their preview or pronouncement, but in their substance of doing. The Lord dismisses, even condemns, empty promises and meaningless professions. The deeper His word soaks into us, the more it directs our intentions and motivates our actions, leaving its imprint on all we do.
Are we prone to boasting what we know, believe, or can or will do, but not matching those words with action? How seriously do we weigh what we say with what we know we can follow through on? Where do we procrastinate practically live out our faith, and what will we do about it?
Lord, identify me as Yours by my words matched with action, to Your glory.
As the rain and snow 