It’s much easier to claim the Christian faith than it is to display the Christian faith.
That’s why my heart is moved to a much deeper extent when I see the fruits of faith demonstrated by people whose hearts, minds and souls have been transformed by the presence of Christ in their lives.
I’m reminded of the movie Jerry Maguire (1996) within which the fictional pro football star shouted “Show me the money!” during contract negotiations. The football player was tired of hearing hypothetical talk about possible salary amounts and decided it was time for the team owners to show proof of their faith in his abilities.
Yes, we observe that talk is cheap sometimes.
Including in the domain of faith.
You and I have both been guilty of cheap talk on occasion.
I thank God that I have never seen cheap talk in the life of Jesus.
In fact, Jesus very clearly in the pages of scripture demonstrates the opposite.
When He speaks, His words are rich with meaning and power delivered through Him by His Father in heaven.
And when He speaks then acts, His mission is multiplied in amazing ways that provide tangible, memorable affirmations of His faith and His sovereignty.
My time in the One-Year Bible this morning reminded me of the above in a rich fashion.
Jesus knew that some people — particularly His critics — saw His talk as cheap when He forgave the sins of a crippled man brought to Him by four of the man’s friends.
“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” some of cynic-minded teachers of the law were thinking.
Ironic, huh? Men skilled in cheap talk with fancy words flooding their minds with skepticism and scorn toward the One who used simple words to convey rich truths.
Please follow closely the words of Mark 2:8-11:
“Immediately Jesus knew in His spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and He said to them, ‘Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…”
“He said to the paralytic, ‘I tell you, get up, take you mat and go home.’
“He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (NIV)
It’s a great story, of course.
Jesus is the perfect example of how words of faith are backed up by deeds of faith.
There was no cheap talk in Jesus’ life.
And there is to be no cheap talk in our lives.
It’s easy to say that we have forgiven others, particulary when around other believers.
It’s not so easy to actually do so and then continue to live in ways that show our forgiveness is more than just talk.
Dear friend, God wants to funnel His power through your life in ways that bring glory to Him and His grace into the lives of others.
Be a vessel of Truth. Speak the words of scripture. Proclaim the promises of the Bible into the lives of others.
Realize, though, that some people will see your Christian words as cheap talk unless you invite God to confirm your faith through rich deeds that unmistakably demonstrate real faith.
Forgiving people who have deeply wounded you just might be the most telling way to show a supernatural trust in God’s empowering help.
God was greatly praised when the lame man received forgiveness and the restoration to a life of normalcy.
And God will be praised when you forgive people and they — and you — can get on with life no longer crippled by sin and separation from one another.
As always, I love you
Martin
