Words--merely a series of letters combined to form sounds: meaningless without action

Once a teacher, now an author and editor for a publisher, one writing technique stands out among others: don't TELL a reader what's going on, SHOW what's happening! Recently, a friend emailed a short essay about true love between two people; alas, it didn't include anything about loving God. A short response acknowledged how true the treatise and added: "more importantly, however, is to love Yeshua."

People often say, "I tell God every day that I love Him and I thank Him for all my blessings." Holy Spirit brought to mind this text lesson as applying also to Elohim: don't tell, SHOW! Adonai could care less about what we say, other than it be absolute truth: rather, He is concerned whether or not our behaviour reflects the love we speak for Him and our fellow humans. Words are nothing more than a series of letters combined to form specific sounds: only action gives them absolute meaning—revealing truth or lie, sincerity or insincerity.

In reviewing Luke 18:9-14, Jesus described two men—one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector—who entered the temple to pray. The Pharisee thanked God he was not like extortioners, the unjust, adulterers, or even this nearby tax collector. With head bowed, this tax collector beat upon his chest and begged, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" Jesus declared him the only one to return home justified by God.

How does our Lord determine a sincere SHOW of love for Him and our neighbors? In these few ways, yet more:

1) Obey His commandments—all Ten—from a heart of love and utter humility;
2) Accept Christ as His son;
3) Feed the hungry;
4) Clothe the naked;
5) House the homeless;
6) Confess our faults one to another;
7) Plant seeds by speaking and teaching Yeshua's truths at all times;
8) Overcome this flawed world—being in the world but not of it, in the body but not of it;
9) Pray unceasing;
10) Continually forgive in order to be forgiven, to give good for evil and not evil for evil;
11) Study His Word for knowledge, wisdom, reproof, correction and good doctrine—to learn to be quiet and mind our own business;
12) Be kind to the wicked and filthy—for even God is kind to them while they are here;
13) Be satisfied with what you have, however little it might be;
14) Give to whomsoever asks of you, expecting nothing in return—not even love returned

FOR THEN WE SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND OUR REWARDS WILL BE GREAT IN HEAVEN.

Don't Tell, SHOW! ©copyright 2003 Bonita M Quesinberry, R.C.