1 Corinthians 4

For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God’s power. – Vs 20 NLT

James put it this way: "I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds" (James 2:18 NLT). In The Message, Eugene Peterson puts the thoughts of James into words we can all understand: "You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove." In other words, we can't just talk about our faith, we have to live it out. It has to become concrete and real. Yet, too much of what we call faith is "just fancy talk," We say one thing and do another. We express in words our belief, but the words never seem to impact our behavior.

Because the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God's power. It's an empowered life that radically reflects the reality of the truth – the Gospel message of Christ's redemptive work on the cross. The Kingdom of God isn't just about a kingdom to come, but it's about a kingdom that has come. Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full, not just in the future, but right now. In his letter to Timothy, Paul put it this way: "godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8 NIV). The life of godliness or life in the Kingdom of God holds promise for the here-and-now as well as the hereafter. It is powerful and life-transforming right now, not just in the future. It holds promise for today!

But is all our talk about the Kingdom just talk? Do we talk a good game, but fail to live it out on game day? Paul encouraged the believers in Thessalonica with these words: "We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you into his Kingdom to share his glory" (1 Thessalonians 2:12 NLT). Live your lives in a way…behave in a way…conduct yourselves in a way…that God would consider worthy. Don't just give lip service to your faith, put shoe leather to it. "Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity" (1 Timothy 4:12 MSG).

Father, I want my life to be characterized by Your power, not my persuasive words. I don't want to live a life that is all talk and no action. At least, not any more! I want to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of God who is backed by the full power and authority of God. I want my life to be an example of what it means to believe – in my words, my actions, my love, my faith, and my moral purity. Thank You that I can because You have given me the power to do so. Amen