Click here to go to the Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:12-22

20Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident.

A boaster is quickly caught out. He is soon recognised as someone who talks a lot, but does nothing. Before long, with such a reputation, no one believes a word he says. If your words and actions are not aligned there is a good chance that things will fall apart.

I take my caravan for a service. I have a long chat with the owner. He says his business is struggling. I feel sorry for him. When the service was done, I drove the caravan home, but soon realised that not all the work had been done. The owner has many stories, but I take the caravan back to him. Eventually it’s ready and I go and pick it up. Back home I see that they’ve bumped the caravan. I take it back immediately. Now the owner has even more stories. Weeks later I get my caravan back, but the work has been done so badly that I have to take it to a friend for a spray job. The owner has even more stories. I ask him why he thinks his business is struggling. He says he doesn’t know. I say I think it’s all the stories he tells, because he says one thing, but does another.

People quickly find out when someone talks a lot, tells many stories, but does other things. Even when people say nothing, they do not want to be part of such a deception and they go looking for someone else. Even in churches where people preach things, but don’t do it, they don’t want to be part of it. If your words aren’t backed by your actions, they are hollow.

We must align our words and our actions. What comes from our mouths must be visible in our actions. But it’s not always that easy. We always say these nice things, but when it comes to acting it’s too difficult and we easily go with other stories.

How do you align your words with your actions? Paul lays the foundation: 21God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.

We must realise that God helps to make our words and actions the same:

·         God gives Christ as our anchor. The one we can hold onto so that we do not drown in the rough waters of life.

·         Christ is our foundation. He is the one who forms the basis of our lives so that we can do what we say.

·         God empowered us. He not only gave us power to know and talk, but also to do what is right.

·         God also puts us on the side so that He can work with us, teach us and equip us to help others.

·         God made us His property. We belong to God. He is our Creator and our Father.

Therefore, if we say one thing and our actions do not bear witness to the same message, there is something wrong with us. Then we’re not listening to the Holy Spirit. We do not allow Him to take over the wheel of our lives. God provided everything, but we choose against it. No, man. Let’s make another plan. Let’s break with the past and start today to align our actions with what is coming from our mouths. Let’s take this equipping package of God and make a difference wherever we go today!

Reflection

Are your actions always aligned with your words?

Where do you have to be more careful?

How can you become more sensitive to the guidance by the Holy Spirit?

Prayer

Dear God, please help me to align my actions with my words. Amen.