Not A Spectator Sport

Read

James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

1 John 3:18 "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

Think

The early church wasn’t known as admirers or understanders of the Way—they were called followers of the Way. And that makes all the difference. Following means more than simply believing; it means living out the truth with our hands, our feet, and our hearts. As Christians, we aren’t just invited to study or observe Scripture, but to put it into motion in our everyday lives. God calls us beyond passive learning into a life of action, inviting us to step into his incredible story, to join him in bringing his Kingdom to earth right now.

This calling is deeply personal. We are invited to do more than just talk about the good news—we are called to live it, to embody it in our words, actions, and presence. Jesus didn’t just teach about love; he lived it, touching the untouchable, healing the broken, and offering hope to the hopeless. And that’s our invitation, too. We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ, to enter into the pain of this world and bring the light of God’s hope. God still calls us even when we feel uncertain or overwhelmed by our struggles.

And the truth is, we don’t need to have it all together. If you feel like you’re not enough—if doubts creep in or life’s messes weigh you down—God still invites you to be part of his mission. He doesn’t wait for us to be perfect before calling us to step into his work. That’s the beauty of grace.  

Faithfulness is our part; fruitfulness belongs to God. He doesn’t expect us to produce the results, just to show up and say yes. As Oswald Chambers said, "Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading." We trust that as we move forward in faith, God will work in ways we can’t yet see. Let’s not be content with simply admiring or understanding the way of Jesus—let’s follow him with all that we are, trusting him to use us for his glory.

Apply

How are you putting your faith into action? An easy way is to join a church ministry team or look for opportunities to show kindness to people around you.

Pray

Heavenly father, thank you for inviting me to not just admire or understand your Word, but to live it out. I know that you’re calling me to be your hands and feet in this world, even in my doubts and imperfections. Help me step out in faith this week and see the opportunities you’ve placed in front of me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.