Are We Living Out God’s Word?

A Message from That Boy Back Then

As a young boy, I watched my father—a single parent of four—do his best to keep us together, provide for us, and still make time for church. I remember the effort it took just to get us out the door. Breakfast had to be made, clothes had to be put on, and we had to be on time for Sunday school. For a man carrying that kind of weight, I can only imagine how exhausting it was.

But what stands out to me the most isn’t the struggle of getting to church—it’s what happened when we got there. Instead of being welcomed with warmth and love, I remember the stares. The sideways glances. The grumpy looks. No one outright rejected us, but their expressions spoke loudly.

I didn’t understand it back then, but as I’ve matured in Christ, I now see it for what it was. It wasn’t hatred or cruelty—it was simply the fallen nature of man. It was the hypocrisy of those who claimed to follow Jesus but did not live as He commanded.

Now, as a grown man raising one daughter with another on the way, I can only imagine the weight my father carried. And today, I want to share a message from that boy back then—a message I wish I could have spoken to those people in the church.

Are we truly living out the Word of God? Are we following Jesus, the Word made flesh? Or are we merely saying we follow Him while our actions tell a different story?

The Bible tells us that we may be the only gospel some people ever see. People are watching, not just what we say, but how we live. Do we reflect Christ? Or do we push people away from Him?

Let’s look at what Scripture says about living out God’s Word and being a true witness for Christ.

Living Out God's Word

1. Be Doers, Not Just Hearers

📖 James 1:22 – "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."💡 It’s not enough to hear the Word; we must live it.

2. Shine Your Light

📖 Matthew 5:16 – "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."💡 The way we live should lead others to glorify God, not push them away.

3. Our Lives Are a Letter from Christ

📖 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 – "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men..."💡 Our lives are a letter from Christ—what are people reading?

Are We Following Jesus, the Word?

4. Jesus Is the Word

📖 John 1:1, 14 – "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."💡 Jesus is the Word. To follow Him is to follow the Word of God in action, not just in speech.

5. Walk as He Walked

📖 1 John 2:6 – "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."💡 If we claim to follow Jesus, our actions should match His.

6. Obedience Over Words

📖 Luke 6:46 – "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"💡 Following Jesus isn’t just words; it’s obedience.

The Gospel Some May Only See

7. We Are Christ’s Ambassadors

📖 2 Corinthians 5:20 – "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ..."💡 We represent Christ to the world—what message are we sending?

8. Do Everything in Jesus’ Name

📖 Colossians 3:17 – "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus."💡 Everything we do should point people to Jesus.

9. Live as an Example

📖 Titus 2:7-8 – "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works..."💡 Our lives should silence critics and draw people to Christ.

Conclusion: A Challenge to Live the Word

I don’t share this story to condemn anyone but to challenge all of us. If I could go back in time and stand in that church as the man I am today, I wouldn’t speak with bitterness. I would simply ask, "Are we truly living as Christ called us to?"

That boy back then didn’t understand why people looked at him and his family that way. But now, as a man in Christ, I do. The world doesn’t need more churchgoers—it needs more Christ-followers. People who don’t just hear the Word but live it.

So, I ask you:

Are we living out the gospel? Or are we just talking about it?

Let’s be the light Jesus calls us to be. Let’s live out God’s Word in a way that welcomes the broken, loves the lost, and reflects the true heart of Christ. Because we may be the only gospel some people ever see.

Let’s challenge ourselves to impact the lives of others positively. Together, we can reflect Christ and draw people closer to Him, one action at a time.

Signed,

Charles Jones