God's Love Through Our Actions

1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” ~CSB

​Tina is 10 years old. She is about to give a speech in front of her peers at school. She was entered into a contest by her teacher. This will be Tina’s first time participating in a speech contest. Tina’s father looks at her before she takes the stage and says, “No matter what happens sweetheart, I am proud of you.” She responds, “You will be even prouder when I win.” Her father did not want her to get her hopes up. So, he adds, “Well, you are going up against other students who have participated in this contest before. Just do your best. This is all you can do.”
 
“Dad…” She begins. “…nobody can beat me at being me. Speaking on what I believe in, is ‘me’.” Tina went on to win the contest. There were a lot of things that contributed to her victory. But the one characteristic that took her over the top was her confidence in what she spoke about. Her confidence showed more in her than in the others that competed.
 
As new Christians, we must know that our faith is given to us as gifts by God. In the very womb we have everything we need to be a child of God. Which means we are made for the purpose God created us for. So, when we stand as Christians, it doesn’t matter if it is the first day we accept Christ. We can boldly stand next to a veteran Christian of 50 years and praise the same way. Why is this? It is because it doesn’t matter to God how long one has accepted His Son. What matters is how we carry ourselves in knowing Jesus Christ as our savior in everything we do and speak. There are those that are lost. They want to know Christ. When we carry ourselves with the confidence of Christ, they will see Him in us. They won’t see that we are just babies on this new journey in our lives. Our confidence from our faith will allow them to see God in our actions and speech. With this we have accomplished God’s main command for us as Christians. And that is to make disciples.
 
We must let go of comparing ourselves to other Christians who may have walked this spiritual path before us. Instead, we must embrace our calling of being His children. And live our lives as an, “…example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

May God continue to bless and keep you in his love and protection in Jesus’ name.
 
Amen

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