Much of society is on an information binge. The electronic media has bombarded us with emails, texts, tweets, Facebook posts, pictures, blogs, writings, plus a plethora of information for us to consume. The good news is there is information available on just about anything at our fingertips. The bad news is that unless we focus, we can spend countless hours taking in all of this information and not utilize a fraction of it in our daily experience. We become filled with facts that have little directional impact on our lives.
The Kingdom can be the same way. We should always have a hunger for more of the Word of God and the things of the Spirit. Almost every time there is a gathering there is an opportunity to teach something about the Kingdom. I had the opportunity again yesterday and each time I take that opportunity, I ask the Holy Spirit to give me something of practical value that the people who are listening can put into practice on a daily basis. And I think the key here is “put into practice”.
James says it this way, What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. James 2:14 – 17 NLT
In essence, James is saying, what good are the facts without the acts? People, even more so today than previous generations, are condition to be gatherers of information. But what good is information alone of if it doesn’t change actions, outcomes, lifestyles, or responses. It is basically useless or as James says even more harshly, “dead”. May your life be one of continually seeking facts, but even more so, may your life be marked by the many acts that the facts have produced. Focus on spelling faith this way; A-C-T-I-O-N. Demonstration is still the best way to teach.
D.O.V.E.