Let my actions and the words of my mouth demonstrate Your love Lord.

Today I am sitting outside to read my Bible and to pray. Although our house sits far off the road and behind trees, I cannot help but notice the family across the street. A divorced mother just moved in a few weeks ago and her three young daughters have come to stay with her for a few days. The girls, who are tiny images of their mother, are riding bikes in circles, on the small apartment driveway.

I have been sitting here for a while trying to read, but it has been difficult. Frequently my quiet time, with the Lord, has been disturbed by screams from the mother. They are directed at one or all of her girls. The sound I hear coming from her mouth is neither appropriate nor kind and most of all demonstrates no love for her children. As I continue to read, my mind keeps drifting to memories of our three daughters at that age and I wonder what I looked like as a young mother. Did I demonstrate my love for them and my Christian beliefs, or did I sound like this mother?

The distraction of the noise is making it difficult to focus on my Bible reading. So I just asked God to speak to me, and I again attempt to read. But, once more my focus is pulled to the activity across the street. This time it is from the screaming statement of the oldest girl. “You are stupid! I hate you! I don’t want to be with you!” is what I just heard. She was screaming this at her little sister. Wow, my heart hurts! Those are horribly strong words that came from a young little mouth. I don’t wonder where she heard that statement!

This leads me to ask you and myself some questions.  What is in our hearts? What are our words and actions teaching others? Are we, as Christians, demonstrating God’s love and compassion or are we demonstrating that we are impatient, self indulged and uncaring?

The Bible states “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 (New International Version)

I feel that frequently, even Christians, act and speak inappropriately. We demonstrate what we have learned. If we, like these children, have heard negative and are treated negatively then we might also, like them, speak and act like we have been taught.

Romans 7:15-24 (New International Version) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

This is not what God wants from us. It is God’s desire that we live our lives as His children and demonstrating his love. And if we let Him, He will assist us in filling our hearts and minds with His love.
Ephesians 3:14-21 (New International Version) 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Today… Let God work within you to change you to be act and speak and live like Him!