9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (I Thessalonians 2)
Often, as believers, we talk about what we believe, what our convictions are. But do we act upon them. These three missionaries acted according to what they said. They worked toward it; they died to self-fulfillment; they walked as citizens of God's Kingdom. Thus, they were able to say: "live like we live, which is the same as we say." That is a scary venture: to open our lives for scrutiny. But it is also freeing, especially when we all are willing to do so in God's family. There is no "us versus them" mentality, but a mutual calling to holiness, love and encouragement. The freedoms we have in Christ are much greater than a freedom of speech, though the freedom to tell others is included with them. May we celebrate our freedom with holiness, proclamation of the Gospel, hard work, and all those things that describe a follower of Christ. Let's Walk our Talk.
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