"WHAT DO YOUR ACTIONS SAY?"

July 10    “What Do Your Actions Say?”  John 21:14-17

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.  So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”  He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” (John 21:14-17)

I think, this morning, it would be good for us to ask ourselves the question that the Lord asked Peter, “Lovest thou Me more than thee?”  Peter felt that he loved the Lord more than the other disciples did.  “These,” in the question, refers to the other disciples.  I truly believe that there are professing Christians today who are like Peter.  I recently encountered a young pastor that was eager and willing to inform me that I was “going to Hell” because I didn’t believe exactly as he professed to believe.  Stunned, I ask him, “Do you love him more than your rules and regulations?”  He looked at me and shook his head and walked away.  I stood there, thinking about what he had said to me, and I quickly surmised that he thought that he was more religious and that he loved God more than me!  I am positive that he has convinced himself, that this was true; however, in his condemnation of me, I had a moment of enlightenment!  Following a set of rules and condemning those who do not follow your rules, certainly does not edify the Savior and does not reflect our mandate as believers, to LOVE!  The old cliché, “YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS” IS STILL TRUE!”  How do your actions speak when the question is asked, “Lovest thou Me more than your friends?”  Friends usually talk to one another.  What could be said of friends that didn’t communicate?  I would assume, from their actions that friendship didn’t exist!  How can we claim to love Jesus and treat our fellowman with disdain?  The experience with this young man, and a quick observation of his actions, brought me to the conclusion that he was being faithful to the rules that he had been taught, yet, they were far from the message of LOVE, demanded by our God!  So, what am I trying to express today?  It is really simple!  God loved us enough that He sent Jesus to be the last and true sacrifice for our sins and to open the opportunity for a relationship to be re-established with God the Father!  Are your actions matching your words?  Our commitment to God transcends criticism, condemnation from others, and the worldly influences.  God has established a pattern of behavior and a template for human relationships.  We are to love God, love our neighbor and ourselves!  Napoleon’s soldiers invaded Russia.  They arrived in a village where everyone had fled the advancing soldiers, except one man.  He was a rugged woodsman with the handle of his ax stuck in his leather belt.  The soldiers started to shoot him, but the Captain stopped them and he said, “He has shown great courage, so we are going to mark him and let him go free!”  They heated a branding iron and burned into his left palm, the letter “N.”  What does the letter “N” stand for?”  The Captain said, “It stands for the Emperor Napoleon!”  “It signifies that you now belong to Napoleon!”  This courageous Russia woodsman pulled out his ax, placed his hand on the stump of a tree and with one firm motion, cut that hand off.  He said with conviction, “That hand may belong to Napoleon, but I am a Russian, and if I must die, I will die a Russian!”  Listen, our actions should speak for our Lord!  May God help us to cut off, from our lives, everything and anything that does not belong to Him and that does not edify and glorify Him.  What God does with you, depends upon what you do!  It Always has; It Always will!! Be sure, be productive and continue to share the Love of God with others!   Stay Strong, Stay Focused…Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!