“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:18 (NLT) When someone is training for a job—any job—they can’t stay in the classroom forever. There comes a point when they have to move from learning to doing. What good is knowledge if it’s never put into practice? The apostle Paul understood this, which is why—even from a Roman prison—he encouraged the believers in Philippi to act on what they’d learned. He wrote: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”Philippians 4:9 (NIV) Paul had spent time teaching, training, and loving the people in Philippi. Now, he was urging them to take what they’d learned and live it out. Faith wasn’t meant to stay confined to their minds or words; it needed to show up in their lives. Jesus emphasized this same principle. He wasn’t interested in His followers simply appearing righteous or sounding holy—He wanted their lives to reflect genuine goodness and love for God. James, the half-brother of Jesus, put it this way: “But be doers of the

There is a saying that many of us used when we were kids that went something like this: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” But this statement is not true, is it? Words do hurt, and most of the time, the hurt runs deeper and lasts longer than physical pain. This truth is the reason why we need to use our words wisely when speaking to our loved ones, friends, and fellow believers. But it is especially important when we are engaging with non-believers. Paul talks about this in his letter to the Colossian church when he says: “Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders [unbelievers]. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.” (Colossians 4:5-6 MSG, emphasis mine) Paul urges gracious speech, aiming to encourage and bring out the best in others—a stark contrast to our human instincts. When faced with unkindness or attacks on our beliefs, our natural response is defensiveness. I confess, I’ve been guilty of this too! Yet,