Less Talk, More Show

Recently I had a conversation with a friend, the mother of a fourteen-year-old boy. She conveyed an observation her son had made on the way home from church regarding the Christianity of yesterday and of today.

“Your generation of Christian wants to be constantly told about Jesus…” He said, undoubtedly as a commentary on the events of that morning.

I agreed with his observation having lived through nearly four decades of sermonizing. But then the boy went on to say something deeply moving and profound…

“My generation wants to be SHOWN Jesus.” He said, revealing insight and wisdom beyond his years.

And therein lies the whole point of our existence as believers. It is our purpose to be “little Christ” to the people around us. As I read the accounts of Jesus’ life I notice that it is very different from most of the lives I observe—mine included. But it does not have to be that way. We are to be people who show the world Jesus in all that we do—finding joy in giving and reason in sacrifice. This should not be too difficult for us “older” believers to figure out since Jesus’ life has been so conveniently recorded for us in the Book.

It is imperative for our generation of believers to show the ones to come Jesus through how we live. If we don’t, we will lose them. I have come to the realization that the next generation is more dialed into OBSERVING us than it is LISTENING to us. And we could talk up one side and down the other without a single, solitary response. The power of the Gospel is evident in the lives of believers who simply live like Jesus.

Less talk, more show.