The Proof Is In The Puddin'

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him." - 1 John 3:18-19

There are a number of sayings that have faded over time. "The proof is in the pudding" is one of those. Every now and again an old saying will "pop up" in my brain and come out of my mouth and Martie will say, "I haven't heard that in years." So .. what proof is in the puddin'? Well the proof of our faith. We prove our faith when we live out the Word of God in the face of the world that does what it can to contravene God's design and intent.

How do we do that? Loving others is at the top of the list. The Bible tells us that we are to love because that is God's nature and mankind's nemesis. God's love is unconditional - it doesn't matter who you are or what you have done. (I might add quickly that I am not saying there are no earthly consequences for our actions but there is eternal forgiveness for our souls) 

Following Jesus means that we must reject our old nature and embrace a new nature by faith. (Like what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3) The result is change within. 

"Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God." -  2 Corinthians 5:16-20

Listen - we live our new lives in jars of clay. It is a struggle to live a new life in the face of the pressure life on this planet brings to submit to the old one. The world wants what it considers the "good parts" of being a Christian but not the part that requires the rejection of the sin that it wants to embrace. The proof of our faith is in the lives that we live not in the words that we say. Our going to church is a demonstration to the world that we are religious but the proof of our faith is how we live and love.  

You know about Peter denying Jesus 3 times. In John 21, after the resurrection, Jesus asks Peter 3 times if Peter loved Him.  I don't know if those events are connected or not. Sometimes we look for connections that are not explicit in the Bible and sometimes we miss connections that are. Be that as it may (another old saying)

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep." - John 21:15-17

It's pretty clear - that Jesus was telling Peter that the love of God is an action and not just an attitude. Think - John 3:16 or perhaps .... 

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone