Conviction

Believers must be prepared to stand up for Christ and communicate the main points of Christianity. And…they must act and speak “with gentleness and respect.” Remember, you used to be the person who “didn’t get it.” Apart from God’s grace, you would still be that person.

Oh, man, I really want to say it. The words are right there on the tip of my tongue. They are as sharp as a sword and hot enough to burn through the person who has just unloaded on me, insulted me, or said something disparaging. So often, I search for the right words to say. I consult a dictionary and a thesaurus. But I need no reference tools on these occasions! The volcanic words erupt from deep within. They make the twelve-inch journey from my heart to my lips in a nanosecond. Their engines roar on the runway of my tongue, ready to take off like an X-15 fighter jet!

Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Isn’t this relationship with God something to be earned? Don’t I need to spend time demonstrating my religious worth—confirmation, first communion, baptism, listening to sermons, or to speed up the process—volunteering with the youth group? Don’t I have to do something, be something, or achieve some spiritual…something? This sounds too easy. Just say, “Jesus is Lord,” and that’s it? Come on!

Love is an action word. It is not hidden or hinted at. When you love someone you don’t want that person to be unsure of your emotions. When you love someone you say it and show it. Love is expressed in tangible ways.