BY OUR DEEDS

BY OUR DEEDS

READ:
Matthew 23:23-31

Even a child is known by
his deeds, whether what
he does is pure and right.
-Proverbs 20:11

One night a clergyman was walking to church when a thief pulled a gun on him and demanded his money or his life.  When he reached in his pocket to hand over his wallet, the robber saw his clerical collar and said:  "I see you are a priest.  Never mind, you can go."  The clergyman, surprised by the robber's unexpected act of piety, offered him a candy bar.  The robber said, "No thank you, I don't eat candy during Lent."

The man had given up candy as a supposed sacrifice for Lent, but his lifestyle of stealing showed his real character!  According to the writer of Proverbs, conduct is the best indicator of character.  If someone says he is a godly person, his words can only be proven by consistent actions (20:11).  This was true of the religious leaders in Jesus' day as well.  He condemned the Pharisees and exposed their sham for professing godliness but denying that profession with sin in their lives (Matthew 23:13-36).  Appearances and words are deceiving:  behavior is the best judge of character.  This applies to all of us.

As followers of Jesus, we demonstrate our love for Him by what we do, not just by what we say.  May our devotion to God, because of His love for us, be revealed in our actions today. -Marvin Williams

Spiritual words are mere distractions
If not backed up by our godly actions,
And all our good and beautiful creeds
Are nothing without God-honoring deeds. - Williams
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Conduct is the best proof of character.

INSIGHT
In Matthew 23, Christ issues a series of "woes" upon the religious establishment of His generation.  In each address, He refers to them as "hypocrites," a word that describes someone who hides behind a mask.  They were teaching one thing and living something quite different-the heart of hypocrisy.

Have a blessed day.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace