Beyond All Talking, the Deed

Won without a word by the behavior. (I Peter 3:2)

I Peter 2:11-3:4; Prov. 11:30; Mt. 7:18-21; Mt. 16:24; John 13:25; I Cor. 7:16-17

What Is God Saying?

"Likewise" ... that is the word at the beginning of chapter 3, which relates the counsel that follows to the example that precedes it. The Christian is called to follow the example of Christ-the example of his life and love. He not only said he loved us, but he showed he loved us. He showed this in the life he lived and the death he died. It was what he did that brought us salvation. It was the great fact, the great act, of his death on the cross that opened the door to peace with God. We are to do what he said, but we are also to do what he did. No, we are not to make the ultimate sacrifice on a cross, for only the Son of God (God Himself) could do that. Our Lord's acceptance of the cross is our only salvat10n-it is also (by Peter's word) our great example. It is his example of selfless love given to be a pattern for all of living for all Christians.

How Does This Apply To Us?

It is important to remember that these words were written in Roman times. In the society of those days, the husband and father had absolute authority over his whole household. When a man became a Christian or joined the Church, he would bring with him his whole family. They had no choice. On the other hand, when a woman embraced the faith, she often did so alone. She had to use all that she had to bring her family to faith, her words, and the way she lived her life. These women are our example.

Pray With Me

Heavenly Father, to win others for Christ and to bring others to Christ calls for something more than words. Let me never forget that while many people may be convinced by words, more people are convinced by example. Lord, you have given your people a great gift in the ability to communicate through the spoken word. Through my words, I can try to tell someone else my true feelings. Through spoken language, I can try to express my real desires.

Sometimes this kind of commumcat10n seems awkward and inadequate. Sometimes the best-intended language can be misunderstood. Yet I would be so much poorer if I could not express my love and my honest feelings toward another through words. Words can hurt and destroy, but they can also heal and restore. Let me accept the gift of speech as one more opportunity to serve you. It is a talent, the use of which I must give an account, but I have come to see a deeper truth.

Beyond all talking, there is the deed. Above all words, there is the work; stronger, lovelier, more convincing than speech, there is the act. Your words from the cross have brought untold blessings to mankind, yet my hope of Heaven does not end in what was said there but in what was done. I was won without a word.

As I have been won not with words, but by the eloquence of one splendid act, so may I be ever conscious that others will come to know, to love, and to give their hearts to you more by what I am and by what I do than by what I say. May what I am and what I do fill up that which is lacking until all who know me are won without a word.

To the praise of Him who went to the Cross that He might win for those who love Him an everlasting victory, Amen

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

Prayer is like a surveyor's transit, which can determine the true dimensions and the accurate conditions of our faith and life. Let the Word of God serve as a transit for our actions. Let the example of Christ be the pattern for our good behavior. Let prayer bind us to the importance of what we do. Prayer and behavior have a lot to do with each other, and both are used by God to bring others into the Kingdom.