The Bible tells us that we should profess with our mouths the love we have for Christ in our hearts. It also says that we should be ready at all times to give an account for this faith that we have. But we must not ever forget that we tell our story best by how we live our lives. (“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16) Do we honor God by our words only, or do we honor Him by our actions as well?

I’ve heard a few times recently a line that says, “People don’t always live what they profess, but they usually live what they believe”. The point being that talk is cheap. If we profess with our mouths that we believe in an eternal life through Christ, but live like this world is all that there is, then what we truly believe is demonstrated by our actions.

How many times have I told someone, “Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you”? I mean it, but I tend to say this as I am ending a conversation rather than starting one. What if Jesus had taken that road? He could have easily said as He walked away, “Let me know if you need me.” Thank goodness He didn’t go that route with us. No, Jesus died for us before we knew we needed Him. While we were still dead in our sin, He paid our debt so that we could one day have life eternal.

One of the coolest moments in my day is when I ask someone to meet a need I have and they say, “I’ve already taken care of that”.

I especially love it when my husband says that. He does that a lot, and it’s a wonderful example to me of how Jesus loves me. He often does things for me that I didn’t even know I needed to have done. That’s especially wonderful. You see, in meeting my needs before I know I have needs, he is demonstrating to me how Jesus meets my needs. That’s the role of a husband. To point his wife to Christ.

Remember, we may not always live what we profess, but we live what we believe.  Our example is Christ. Always.

Today, as we think about Good Friday and the sufferings of our Savior, there has never been, nor will there ever be, a better example of love in action. Even while we were crucifying Him, He was giving His all for us. All that we can possibly do in return is offer up a life that honors Him and points others to His saving grace. Talk is good, but talk is cheap. It’s the doing that costs us.