Actions Speak Louder Than Words

I wrote this to a friend who's been feeling down.  Since I put some thought into it, I thought I may as well post it here with a few revisions.

**************
I know I'm in a valley when my temper gets the better of me. I usually find myself taking it out at other drivers on the road.  I swear I'm gonna make a sign I can put up to my window that says, "Get off the phone and drive you idiot!'  No I won't.  Maybe it'll just say, "Get off the phone!"

When it comes to dealing with non-Christians we need to remember not to be surprised by their reaction to Christians. We can react back at them or we can choose to protect our testimony by refusing to be baited. We've all heard that actions speak louder than words.  And sometimes what is NOT said is as important as what IS said.  WJD has been so overused that it has become cliche', but it really is a mantra to live by.  On the way home from church this past Sunday I was thinking about the thief on the cross.  He may have never heard Jesus teach, but he saw how Jesus responded to those who hated him.  He saw that and thought, "I know which horse I'm hitchin' my wagon to!"  (Okay, that's a paraphrase.)  He didn't know any magic words to say, so he just spoke his heart, "Remember me in your kingdom." And Jesus replied, "Today you will be with me in paradise."  Wow.  If that doesn't give one chills . . . .

Dealing with the unsaved is like living with a naughty dog. It does no good to be angry at the dog when he drags the chicken off the table and gobbles it up, or when he wets on the carpet. He's just conforming to his character -- he's a dog, that's what dogs do. The unregenerate person is the same way. They're of the world -- that's what worldly people do. There's no point in letting it upset us -- we simply need to conform to His character.

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ~ John 15:18-19

We need to be courageous and stand up for right in the face of the world! But I need to make sure I do it in a way that draws them to me instead of pushing me away.

And like the old gospel tune says, "This world is not our home, we're just a'passin' through."