Be Practical

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Here's another BP for us: it's to be practical.

I think you have probably figured out by now that I like theoretical things. I love to think and write and sing and talk about God and God's ways and God's book and so on. The theory and theology of our faith really excites me and I suppose this is why I was called to ministry, to use that fascination for good.

But I sometimes need to remind myself that it's not about the theory. It's about the practice! A faith that is theoretical but not practical is no real faith at all. After all, didn't James teach us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17)? A faith that talks but doesn't walk is really useless, in the end.

Moving From Theory to Action

So I ask you, are you a practical Christian, or just one on paper? I think there are many people who claim the Christian title because they believe in God. But that belief has never become practical. It's never started to define the way the person lives their life - there is no real repentance or turning from sinful things, and there is no real commitment to church and Christian action. It needs to be practical for it to be real.

Some of you know the lovely song my friend Richard wrote, which we recorded on a CrossRoad album long ago. It's called A Picture of Your Love, and in it Rich talks about how we can try to paint pictures or write songs or tell people of God's love, but it's only when we get practical and start to reach out in love, that God's love becomes real to people. Listen to the last verse:

It was only when I reached out with Your love
To dry a tear of sorrow and to help the sick and poor
It was only when I reached out with Your love
That the picture of Your love became clear to all

Making Faith Visible

Be practical. It's all well and good to listen to devotions and sermons, and watch videos and read articles about Jesus. But the question is, are you doing something with your belief?

May God forgive us for our dead faith, and may He light a fire under us to go and be practical in sharing His love and embodying Him to the world.