Actions > Words

"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." ~ 1 John 4:20-21

So many times we fall for the okie doke and trust people based off of what they say. 

But I'm here to tell you that a person's actions reveal much more than their words can.

It's a biblical principle that John tries to teach us in 1 John 4.

How can we say we're a Christian and that we love Jesus if we're not showing love to our fellow man?

How can we claim to represent Him and we're not doing what he commanded us (John 14:23)?

Actions over words. All day, every day.

God bless,
J.W.

Open Doors

"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe —and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ~ James 2:19-20

In the Christian community, there’s a cliché that's pretty popular – “God opens doors that no man can shut and shuts doors that no man can open.”

But what happens when God opens a door? Are we, as Christians, automatically guaranteed success? What lies on the other side is undoubtedly a blessing, but do we automatically receive that blessing simply because God opened the door? Is our success solely reliant on God’s work or do we have some responsibility?

As many doors as God might open for us, we won’t actually receive the blessing that awaits us if we’re not prepared and positioned to walk through the open door.

Perhaps it’s because we’re carrying so much spiritual baggage that we’re no longer able to fit through the door that God has opened for us. Or perhaps we’ve made our own plans and have decided to stand in front of the wrong door, expecting God to bless our mess. Or maybe we’re just so afraid of what lies beyond the door that we remain paralyzed by fear, and miss our opportunity to walk through the open door.

Whatever the reason and whatever the excuse, God does not expect us to be passive in our walk with Him. He’ll open the door, but we have to walk through it. God will make a way out of no way, but we have a responsibility to walk boldly in that way.

The Bible says that faith without works is dead - and that's true. You can have all the faith you want, but if your faith is not matched with some corresponding action, you’ll never achieve everything that God has in store for you.

Walk boldly in the path that God has laid out for you today!

God bless,
J.W.

Faith Without Works

"But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" ~ James 2:18-20

You know what I hate?

When people talk a lot.

You know what I hate even more?

When people talk a lot but don't do anything.

We murmur and complain a lot nowadays, but God asks us one simple question - "what are you doing?" What are you doing with your life? Your time? Your resources? Your talents?

It's not enough to just talk a good game. You've gotta actually put things in motion.

Faith without works is dead.

God bless,
J.W.

Walk On Water (Part I)

“’Lord, if it's you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’ ~ Matthew 14:28-31

When Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water, it didn’t require any skill, talent, or ability.

Rather, all it required was faith – faith in the one who created Him.

Likewise, we, too, can accomplish amazing, death-defying feats.

But first we must believe.

God bless,
J.W.

Free Gift

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” ~ Romans 10:9-10

A lot of times, we make salvation hard.

We convince people that if they do this, this, and this, they will be saved.

Likewise, if they do that, that, and that, they will not.

But salvation isn’t a reward you earn.

It’s a gift you accept.

Accept this gift today and you can live eternally.

God bless,
J.W.