Actions vs. Words

Last night I dreamed I was on a ship amidst a serious storm. There were monstrous waves which ultimately caused the ship to capsize. I was trapped inside with water draining into the room. There was no way out, this was it, death by drowning was imminent. I would meet my creator within moments.

Did I get it right? Have I lived a life worthy of my calling? Should I be in fear or at peace? Am I truly saved? What if…?

The bottom line is, have my life’s actions spoken louder than my words? I proclaim salvation through Jesus Christ, but do I live it out? And what are the results of my actions?

While fortunately we are not saved by works, our actions and the fruit we bear (good or bad) reflect the lives we lead. Empty words are like water vaporizing into the sky on a hot summer day.

In today’s reading in Colossians 1 we have actions and results:

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives (Colossians 1:6a)

Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. (Colossians 1:10a)

So it is with Christ as he took action: Christ rescued us, transferred us, purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)

We were once enemies of God. Separated from him, but Jesus took action and brought the result of mercy and grace: Reconciliation with Him through his death.

 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. (Colossians 1:22)

What actions is God calling you and I to right now? Who do we need to love and serve today? Who do we need to forgive or to ask for forgiveness? Do our actions today and every day reflect true gratitude for the magnitude of what Jesus has done and is doing in our lives?