i remember hearing children sneer at one another: "show off!"
they said it, spat it, in a fit of jealousy, to the one who was doing something well. this name-calling was always pointed to the one who was good, excelling, succeeding, and showing that they are doing well.
the name-calling - it's not nice. it's not fair. we want to do well. we want to be good, excel, succeed.
but the only good and success worth showing off is that which comes through a life with Christ.
it's important to be a show off for Jesus. we can tell people about God and His Son, we can bring them to church, share scripture with them, pray for them, and lead them to the cross again and again. but the truth is, our day to day actions speak much louder than any words.
so show off what it looks like to live a life saved. be a walking, talking, living example of fully trusting in the Lord. handle situations and conflicts the way Jesus wants you to. be the first to offer to serve. show off the difference between fear and faith in your attitude and actions. make decisions, say things, do things that tell people "she's got God on the inside!" behave in a manner that shocks the world but puts a smile on God's face. think and act and be: grace, kindness, peace, self-control, joy, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness. friends, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. (1 John 3:18)
someone is always watching and what they see will be much more convincing than anything they hear. i want to be the kind of God-loving girl that makes non-believers think, "show off." because that thought will lead to, "what does she have that i don't?" and the only solid, worthwhile, and true answer is "Jesus."
St. Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the gospel at every opportunity and use words if you have to." So go ahead...be a show off.
"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.
Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word
and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.
You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free,
and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard,
then God will bless you for doing it.
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue,
you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless."
James 1:19-26 NLT
"He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good:
and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he."
Proverbs 16:20 KJV
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV
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