We have all heard this phrase many times before because it is a truism and so, repeated often. Our actions certainly speak much louder than our words ever will. Haven’t we heard that children learn more by observing their parents’ actions rather than through their instructions?
Of course, knowing this we remember Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which says every action has an equal and opposite reaction. What we do is seen by others, and it matters. We can make a positive difference around us and hopefully encourage others to follow suit, or we can choose to do otherwise.
All of this thought about our actions comes because I recently viewed a video in which the activities of the person filmed were so in opposition to their words that it was unbelievable. The video shows a white-haired, senior woman viciously and ghoulishly pummeling an effigy with a bat multiple times while working to behead it; she was wearing a shirt that proclaimed “Make America Kind Again” on the front, and on the back was the Golden Rule – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This, a quote from Jesus.
The actions seen were absolutely in conflict with the words she visually displayed. This video was viewed by thousands online, and I do hope that everyone at least noticed the contradictions.
Each of us who claim to be Jesus’ children should be acting as Jesus did. If we wear His words, we certainly should wear His deeds. Of course, I don’t know if the woman even knew the source of the sage words of the Golden Rule but, by now, I am sure someone has informed her.
In this day of cameras on every street corner videoing every move we make, we who carry the name of Jesus in our hearts must keep in mind always who we represent here on Earth. I cringe when I think that my actions in my earlier years could come back in a film version to haunt me. I am very thankful that my erring youth was before the age of the internet and handheld cameras, and I am happy to let my past lie dead where I left it when Jesus saved my soul and brought me to new life. Amen.
After viewing this video, I was then further confounded when I read the verse from my Daily Scripture calendar, “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” Now, I thought, how could a light be darkness? I mean, light is light and darkness is darkness, isn’t it?
But it made me think of the incongruities I saw in the video, and so to clarify the meaning I looked up the entire Bible chapter to read the context. I found Jesus saying, “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light, but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.”
After reading the chapter, I realized this statement is clarified by Jesus’ words that are sandwiched by illustrations speaking of the motivation of our hearts. The first was, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” And afterward, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Reading the entire chapter brought clarity to the verse that I did not understand when quoted by itself. Maybe that is a reminder for me to give that lady some grace. I saw a tiny portion of her life in that video – it is possible that this was actually her life’s worst moment.
Intentionally I do not often peruse the internet and seldom look at Facebook because there is so much negativity out there and I am trying to keep my heart pure and ready to be received by God when I breathe my last breath. I also like to keep in mind the words of wisdom that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
This is what I want in my mind and for God and everyone to see in my heart. I pray any candid videos of me will display actions showing Jesus’ love in me.
May my actions always speak well of my Lord.
Editor’s note: Amy Patsch writes from Ocean City. Email her at writerGoodGod@gmail.com.
