If you truly want to know what a person is like listen to their words and then watch their actions. When Jesus dwelt among us, he alleged that he could answer the question that no other man had been able to answer with precision. He claimed to know what God was like and he claimed to know how God thinks about us. What’s astounding is that he did not allege to have the most accurate explanation of God; he claimed to be the explanation of God. If you want to know what God is like, then listen to Jesus’ words, but more importantly, look at his actions. 

 

BIBLE READING: 

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. – John 14:8-9 NIV

 

In the 1st century sick people were regarded as cursed by God. They were often cast out and no one dared to touch them for fear of becoming sick and cursed by God too. But Jesus touched all sorts of sick people. And, instead of becoming sick, the people he touched were healed. One day, when the people of Israel were living under Roman occupation and oppression, a centurion and commander of one hundred Roman soldiers asked Jesus for help because his servant was ill. Jesus granted the centurion the request and the man was healed that same day. Then there was Jesus’ interaction with Matthew the tax collector. Matthew was regarded as a traitor to his own people and an embarrassment to his country. Jesus walked up to him as he was collecting abusive taxes and said: “follow me”. The next thing we know is that Jesus is at Matthew’s house having dinner with him, many other tax collectors, and people who were regarded as sinners. If you want to know what God is like, just listen to Jesus’ words, but more importantly look at his actions.

 

THINK ABOUT IT: 

If you want to know how God thinks about all people just listen to what Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Then look at what he did, he went out of his way to serve everyone, because everyone is extremely important to God.

 

Pray

Dear God, thank you for your word. With each passing week, I am growing more in the knowledge of Jesus. I am learning to value the things that you value. I am learning to love and to serve others as Jesus did. The love and the example of Jesus is so awesome, so clear, and so amazing, that it has caused me to search you more and to continue growing in love. Dear God, I pray that my words and my actions match up. I pray that when people see what I do, it would be the same as what I say, but more importantly, that it would reflect the character and person of Jesus. Just as Jesus was a living explanation of what God is like, I pray that my actions would be a living explanation as to who Jesus is and how much he loves us, so much so that he gave up his life for us. In his precious name I pray, amen.