Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14


WORDS AND ACTIONS

READ:
1 John 3:18
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Let us not love with
words or speech
but with actions
and in truth.
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The email from the student in my college writing class expressed urgency. It was the end of the semester, and he realized he needed a better grade to participate in sports. What could he do? He had missed some assignments, so I gave him two days to complete those papers and improve his grade. His response: "Thank you. I'll do it."

Two days__and the deadline__passed, and no papers appeared. He didn't back up his words with action.

Jesus told about a young man who did something similar. The boy's dad asked him to do some work in the vineyard. The son said, "I will, sir" (MATT.21:30). But he was all talk and no action.

In commenting on this parable, Matthew Henry concluded: "Buds and blossoms are not fruit." The buds and blossoms of our words, which breed anticipation of what we might do, are empty without the fruit of our follow-through. Jesus' main application was to religious leaders who spoke of obedience yet refused to follow through with repentance. But the words apply to us as well. It is in following God "with actions and in truth" (1 JOHN 3:18__not in making empty promises__that we honor our Lord and Savior.

Our actions in obeying God show Him more love, honor, and praise than any empty words we might say to try to appear good. __Dave Brannon

**Dear Father, help me to follow through on my promises to You
and to all who depend on me. especially help me to do Your will
and not just talk about it.
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Words are the blossoms, actions the fruit

*******************************TODAY'S BIBLE READING __ MATTHEW 21:28-32************************************
28 "What do you think? There was a man who had two
sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work
today in the vineyard.'

29 " 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his
mind and went.

30 "Then the father went to the other son and said the same
thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.

31 "Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
"The first," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and
the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,
and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the
prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not
repent and believe him."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Matthew 21 describes several events in the
life of Christ. This chapter opens with Jesus' triumphal entry
into Jerusalem (vv.1-11) followed by the cleansing of the temple
(vv.12-17) and the cursing of the fig tree (vv. 18-22). Then the parable
of the two sons follows a debate with the religious leaders about
Jesus' authority (vv. 23-32). It is this issue that forms the context
of the parable, for it deals with how the sons responded to
authority. The son who did his father's wishes was the one who
honored his father.