STOP the TALK and ACT

l'll be honest 2020 was actually a really good year for our family. We were able to spend tons more quality time together. God enabled us to start and participate in some awesome ministries in our area. We led numerous church services in Colombia, South America over the internet. We were able to move into a new house and use it for the glory of God by allowing 20-50 parents and students to attend AWANA club every Wednesday on our property. God worked through us, and we saw fruit for our labor. However, there was a lot of things I talked about doing in 2020 that I never accomplished. Finding more outlets to write, passing out more Gospel tracks, spending more quality time with my Lord, finishing the kids baby books, and losing weight are among some of my unfinished plans. As I look back at this past year, I can honestly say that I didn't put forth near enough effort in order to accomplish those things. Sure, I talked about it, but I didn't act. Every year, James and I think of a word to describe our focal point. This year, our word is ACTION.

In Matthew 24, Jesus gave us a picture of what the world would look like in the end times before He returns. Christians, those signs are all around us. And where is the church? Only a select number of pastors are even mentioning the rapture and urging their congregants to work because the days are few. Instead, we are content to visit our church coffee shops and sip our lattes to the beat of a trendy worship leader attempting to be the next Hillsong star. The man-centered worship time is followed by a watered down sermon in which no one is convicted or motivated to do anything. We all leave the church feeling good about ourselves. Meanwhile, there is a world that desperately needs to hear the hope that Jesus Christ gives. Oh, we talk about helping them. We give a few dollars here and there. We may give the waitress a Gospel track once in awhile. But for the most part, the church is content to be nominal, content to let time pass and precious souls die without Jesus. There is much talk within the church about acting, but there is little action.

Oh the many times I have sat in prayer meetings, that have no business being called a prayer meeting! Little praying is ever done. Talking. Gossiping. Sharing. Then, the last few minutes of the time are left to approach the throne room of God. You see, it's easier to just talk to one another about what we should be praying. Stop talking and act!

My mind is blown at churches and ministries that are creating their ten and twenty year plans. There is no urgency. God has given the church a plan. It's called the Great Commission. Instead of just GOING and WORKING, church leadership is thrilled to just sit and theorize about how they might go. Over the years we have been involved in many of these meetings, and rarely are we encouraged by them. There is lots of discussion and ideas but little prayer and little action. If church leadership would spend just half of their planning time actually evangelizing the community, I guarantee MUCH more would be accomplished for the Kingdom.

Abortion is a hot topic in Christian circles, as it should be. It was the leading cause of death in 2020. Think about that. Murder of over 42 million innocent children was committed, and the perpetrators and enablers are not prosecuted. In fact, abortion participants are praised in our sick society. As a believer, that should make you angry. But here's my point. A lot of Christians are angry about it, but that's where it ends. There is no action. Volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center. Pray outside of the walls at an abortion clinic. Adopt an unwanted child. Post information about abortion on your social media outlets. Don't just sit there and be angry. ACT.

My son, Gideon, is an example to me in so many ways. He is a little man of action. Recently, he decided that he needed to start sharing about Jesus with the kids at school. He decided, and then he acted. He picked out one boy in particular in his class and witnessed to him at recess. He shared his faith, and that little boy accepted Christ. The next day, Gideon brought a Bible to school to give to his new convert. Last I heard, the boy and his mom are reading the Bible together daily. Next, Gideon took an evangacube to school. It is an illustrated cube that is used as a tool to share the Gospel. Gideon started sharing God's plan of salvation to classmates using the cube. He was told by a teacher to put the cube away. Gideon put the cube in his bookbag, but the next recess he got it out determined to share Jesus again. God protected him, and he freely shared. Finally, Gideon purchased tracts at the Creation Museum which we visited last month. Then, he distributed them to each of his classmates. He didn't stop there, though. He gave the extra tracts to his best friend who is in another class. He told him not to be afraid and to give them to every student. Oh to have the boldness of that little boy! He doesn't just talk; he acts.

You know that neighbor that you have been talking about for years. You've even mentioned him in your prayer group. You've had good intentions of sharing your faith, but that's where it ends. Well, let me be honest with you. It is not going to get easier. The perfect time to share may never happen. We create this beautiful, hypothetical moment in time where our unbelieving friend hits rock bottom. In our dream, we rush to the rescue, and the friends asks us, "What makes you different?" We then after years and years of befriending are able share our faith. This perfect scenario rarely happens. It's best to share your faith in the very beginning. The time is NOW. Your neighbor may not have a tomorrow, and neither may you.

What have you been talking about and have never accomplished? Are you content being mediocre? Do you care that people don't know Jesus? Do you care enough to ACT?

We are one year closer to the coming of our Lord Jesus. Christians, it is time to put our faith into action. Stop talking. Stop devising your own plans. Stop thinking about it. For the sake of the Kingdom of God, ACT!

"We are frittering away time and money in a multiplicity of conventions, conferences, and retreats, when the real need is to go straight and full steam into battle with the signal for "close action" flying." ~C.T. Studd