Believe It…Live It

We probably all live with a doubting problem. We either believe it and live as if we believe it. Or, we say we believe and our actions belie our words.

To say, do and live what we believe is the greatest compliment to our foundation.

Sometimes we think it requires a leap of faith to prove we believe in something. You know, trust the ice is thick enough to step out and prove it!

Believe in what you say.
Then, live what you say.
There is no greater credibility than conviction in action.
~Dr. Tony Warrick

Your action of living your beliefs proves you truly trust in what you believe.

What’s Your Foundation?

A man was approaching death and asked for his minister to stop by.
“Can I pray for you?” Sure.
“Can we talk about what’s happening next?” Sure.
“May I share some comfort from The Word?”
Sure. Use my bible over there.
The minister picks it up and as he turns the pages he sees many snippets of scripture removed.
“What’s happened to your bible?”
Well, those are all the words you told me were not applicable,
so I cut them out. Isn’t that okay?

What do you say? When you start removing the commandments of God out of your life then you are choosing to live only a partial truth. When you remove the underpinning of one page, the words on the next page are equally removed. Suddenly, you have an incomplete truth.

And this is what you want to base your belief system on?

A saint believed that the Word of God would speak to her.
Just like her minister said.
So, she closed her bible, stood it on edge, closed her eyes and let it fall open.
She pointed at the page, opened her eyes, and read:
“…and Satan entered into Judas…” (Luke 22:3)
She slammed her Bible shut. Aghast!
That will never happen to me!
Bravely, she did it again, and as the page fell open, she pointed:
“[Judas] …and went and hanged himself…” (Matthew 27:5)
Afraid, she closed the book and tried one more time:
“…That thou doest, do quickly…” (John 13:27)

Out of Context

We can take anything out of context, apply it incorrectly, and let it direct us down a bad path. Equally, we can attempt to apply it properly, but without the foundation, it’s seldom going to work the way we want it to. From the law out of the books of our nation, or the commandments given by God, to the examples of positive responses that many of us live by.

It’s like learning to call out, “Fire, Fire” when it’s appropriate to help save someone or something. But do it in a crowded auditorium as a joke? As people are trampling over others and out the doors, you have just created a panic. Wrong!

In these politically charged times, and fearful responses to a spreading Coronavirus, people are scrambling to call their position against all others. We react negatively against ethics, diversity, political stance, ethnicity, immigration… even religion! Name it. Claim it. You have an opinion that makes you flare against others. Draw that proverbial line in the sand. If they cross it? Put up your dukes!

A New Law

We keep making new laws and rules to supersede or enhance old laws. I know this to be a fact because I’ve watched the progression through the years. Start off with something that can be barely accepted, then, with a foot in the door, broaden it next year, and eventually get what you want because everyone accepted the barely tolerated rule.

Jesus looked at his followers and gave them a new law that preceded everything they had created in their own world.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.”
(John 13:34-35 NKJV)

Why is this a new commandment? I see it as an example of love that is found in the Old Testament.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
(Deuteronomy 6:4-6 NKJV)

Catch the connection? He’s been teaching love between him and his chosen people, and now Jesus expands it to all people. Everywhere. All the time. Just as he loved others, so are we to love others.

Here’s My Thought

You can disagree without being disagreeable. Equally, you can be on opposite sides of the fence and not worry about hating the other person. It may even be tough to be in the same room (something I struggle with), but if you let it keep you from exampling love then you have a deeper problem!

Love is different from “like”.

I often wondered if Jesus “liked” everyone he came in contact with. Think about Judas… Did he “like” him? Tolerate him? Or did he simply love him despite his role of the day? Peter was impetuous. Thomas was doubting. James and John had “thunder” personalities … perhaps.

Did Jesus love people despite their personalities, job duties, or outrageous examples of living? What would he have thought about Demas?

In today’s world, how do we show love to everyone, even when we find them despicable?

How do you feel about this? A Texas museum director wished every Republican would die… How you you respond? Relate? Feel? What emotions does this bring out in you?

Without judging, I want to simply walk into other lives and try to simply show love, interest, and concern. Even when attacked, and my face gets red, and my steam is about to vent… See? It affects every one of us!

It’s not perfectly done, but I attempt to make face to face and verbal contact with everyone I see. I have opening lines of communication:

• Is it Friday yet?
• What neck of the woods do you come from originally? (I especially love it when I’ve been where they come from! Just last week? Jordan!)
• Help me, how do I say your name?
• Thank you! You are so kind.

Summation

This is not loving, rather, it’s opening a door where I can connect with them on their level. It’s not judging them for who they are, or what I think they must be like outside of this zone of contact.

Winter, 1985. Something like this.
We are driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks.
Not along a path that was the normal way.
We stop at a roadside lodge to have a snack.
Coffee. Pie.
The waitress was rude, abrupt.
We were not shocked when she plopped our snack on the table.
It was who she was at that moment.

Mom said she was going to get a smile out of her!
“This is a very good pie. Someone needs to be complimented!”
Tell Mrs. Smith, was the reply, then a shallow smirk that opened into a smile.
One simple opening made the difference.

This is where we should be. You may not be on my side of the fence, but I’m sure we can find common ground to enjoy discussing, and learn how to handle the things we struggle with.

This is what I believe. Reach for that common ground so you can begin a connection that can open the doors of goodwill. Now. Live just like you believe it. Live it just like you think others should be living their beliefs!