Actively Participate

 ¹ My son, if you accept my words
   and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
   and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
   and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
   and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
   and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5, NIV

The Spirit draws us to Him, but we are given the ability to choose and must make that choice for ourselves. Once we actively, deliberately choose Christ we are not to become passive; we are to actively participate in the body of Christ. We are not to remain babies in the faith but we are to continue to learn and grow.

Looking at Proverbs 2:1-5 we find these instructions from Solomon to his son: Accept my words; store up my commands; turn your ear to wisdom; apply your heart to understanding; ask for insight and understanding—seek these things fervently—THEN you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. This does not advocate a passive life but instead describes a life actively pursuing God!

Your good works will not save you, but James, chapter 2, says, faith and actions work together; a person is considered righteous not by faith alone but by what they do—the actions of people define what they believe to be true. And Jesus Himself said, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart…the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45). Actions follow beliefs.

What kind of person do people believe you to be strictly based upon how you act? Are you actively participating in the body of Christ? Are you growing in wisdom and understanding of the Word? Do your actions demonstrate your faith? Most importantly—are you sharing the love of Christ with others?

Dear LORD—thank you for working within me to make me more and more Christ-like. I pray for your wisdom as I pursue you and actively share your love with others. I pray to serve you faithfully and that my words and actions bring honor and glory to your wonderful name. Amen.

God Bless!