Believe it or Not
By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
07/18/2022
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. . .” (Philippians 1:27)
Children usually believe whatever you tell them. They can be quite gullible. Moreover, because their faith is so simple and straightforward, they tend to act on what they believe. Adults, by contrast, do not always act in a manner that is consistent with what they believe.
A humorous anecdote illustrates the point. When my oldest daughter Bethany was about five or six years old, she was sitting next to her aunt at the dinner table. When it came time for dessert, she suddenly and without explanation got up from where she was sitting and moved three chairs away. When asked about it, she replied (in a tone that seemed to imply, “Isn’t it obvious!”), “I am eating chocolate cake and I don’t want Aunt Rebekah to get sick.”
As it turned out, earlier in the day mention had been made of Aunt Rebekah’s chocolate allergy. Apparently Bethany assumed that this was an airborne allergy and wanted to shield her aunt from the dangerous chocolate cake virus! It was good for a laugh and a precious memory. But as I think back on that incident I am struck with a simple truth: Bethany acted on what she believed.
There is an important lesson here. When you truly believe something, you act on it. Bethany truly believed that since Rebekah was allergic to chocolate, she might be in danger if she was too close to a piece of chocolate cake. So, believing this with all sincerity she took action and moved her cake away from her aunt.
I am amazed at how often believers live like they do not really believe the gospel. The gospel is literally “good news.” The gospel is the reality that Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we might have eternal life if we simply accept it from Him as a gift. That is really good news! It is life changing news. The reality of our salvation ought to have a profound and pronounced impact on the way we live.
The Apostle Paul told the Philippians, “Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel.” In other words, live like you truly believe that you have been saved from sin and are a child of the King. You can tell a lot about what a person believes by watching the way they act. When others look at you what message do they get? Do you believe the Gospel, or not?
07/18/2022
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. . .” (Philippians 1:27)
Children usually believe whatever you tell them. They can be quite gullible. Moreover, because their faith is so simple and straightforward, they tend to act on what they believe. Adults, by contrast, do not always act in a manner that is consistent with what they believe.
A humorous anecdote illustrates the point. When my oldest daughter Bethany was about five or six years old, she was sitting next to her aunt at the dinner table. When it came time for dessert, she suddenly and without explanation got up from where she was sitting and moved three chairs away. When asked about it, she replied (in a tone that seemed to imply, “Isn’t it obvious!”), “I am eating chocolate cake and I don’t want Aunt Rebekah to get sick.”
As it turned out, earlier in the day mention had been made of Aunt Rebekah’s chocolate allergy. Apparently Bethany assumed that this was an airborne allergy and wanted to shield her aunt from the dangerous chocolate cake virus! It was good for a laugh and a precious memory. But as I think back on that incident I am struck with a simple truth: Bethany acted on what she believed.
There is an important lesson here. When you truly believe something, you act on it. Bethany truly believed that since Rebekah was allergic to chocolate, she might be in danger if she was too close to a piece of chocolate cake. So, believing this with all sincerity she took action and moved her cake away from her aunt.
I am amazed at how often believers live like they do not really believe the gospel. The gospel is literally “good news.” The gospel is the reality that Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we might have eternal life if we simply accept it from Him as a gift. That is really good news! It is life changing news. The reality of our salvation ought to have a profound and pronounced impact on the way we live.
The Apostle Paul told the Philippians, “Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel.” In other words, live like you truly believe that you have been saved from sin and are a child of the King. You can tell a lot about what a person believes by watching the way they act. When others look at you what message do they get? Do you believe the Gospel, or not?
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