Belief comes before the behavior

When watching an episode of a television show I watched as a child was completely disrespectful to his parents. The next scene had the parents in their room and the father saying "He needs to know that it is his behavior that you are mad at not him" to which the mother said "no. people are judged by their actions." This quick scene is one that depicts something that has really been on my heart lately. The father was indicating just as our heavenly Father does, that someone can be loved despite their actions, while the mother in the scene was defining as so many of us do that our actions define us.  This is a great paradox, and one that can create some confusion.  If someone lies, we call them a liar. If someone kills someone we call them a murderer. With this sort of syntax, it makes it seem as though our actions define us, but that isn't what God says. Romans 5:8 tells us "That while we were still sinners Christ died for us" - He loved us despite our inadequacies. While the bible gives picture to many times that God's wrath is toward people, and we see that God's wrath toward sin was poured out toward Christ on the cross, we must know that God's heart is that He loves us all. Does He love when we sin? Absolutely not, but we are all sinners, and we all fall short.

Knowing this, should change the way we look at other people.  It's not uncommon for phrases to be uttered like "I can't believe she acts like that" or "i can't believe He talks like that" but truly that is not the heart we should have. Matthew 7:1-5 says "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." God makes it clear in His word that we are not to judge others  but rather to focus on our own inadequacies and leave the rest to Him.

What we must understand is that Jesus never told someone "Sorry I can't help or heal you because your don't act the way you should. Come back when you have it together." No. He said in many instances "Your faith has made you well"

In Luke 7:36-50 (ESV) we see a picture of a woman who's behavior wasn't what others thought it should be.

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman,“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

This woman had a belief in Jesus that changed her actions. The people there knew her reputation, and it is thought that most likely she was a prostitute. Yet, she showed a loved for Jesus that no one else at that dinner did. She used her hair, which is considered one of the most cherished part of a woman in some cultures, and dried the dirties part of Jesus's body with it. She used her tears, and expensive perfume and gave what she had, while the pharisees didn't even give Jesus a patronizing kiss on the cheek. Her belief came before her behavior ever did. She had to believe in Jesus to act this way, and moreover, that belief probably changed her actions in other areas of her life. Proverbs tells us that wisdom starts with a fear of the Lord. 

Thus we have to know that we can not earn our saviors love, and we can't earn salvation. It is the sacrifice that Christ made that saved us and it's our belief in Him that transforms our lives.  Christ gives us a new heart and a renewed spirit, and gives us the desires of our heart.  Does this mean once you are a christian that your behavior will be perfect- no. It means that when you start a relationship with Christ you will begin to change, but change is a slow process. Little by little God will work on your heart and mold you into a light for Him. 

If you are a christian, be careful to judge people by their behavior. Not only does God tell us not to judge, but remember we live in a broken and fallen world, and the behavior of many is because they don't have Jesus in their lives. Apart from Christ we are all capable of unthinkable things and it is only by the grace of God that we have any good in us. I don't have children, but if I did not would be a perfect time to present a great story about them. Instead I will have to share with you Gracie Lou, my labradoodle. Note the comparison I am about to draw is not saying that God sees us as animals, but rather I love my dog as though she is a person and my husband and I consider her as more than a dog, but a member of the family. 

Gracie Lou I got as a 4 month old puppy from the pound.  She was a pretty good puppy, but she had clearly been abused before I got her as she was very skid dish. It took a lot of patience and a lot of love before she would even play with a toy.  I started training gracie lou once she learned to trust me, but I noticed while she was quick to learn, she wouldn't always remember commands like "Sit" if something more exciting than me was around (i.e. another puppy, a bird, ect.)  I didn't love her any less when she made mistakes, but rather knew that was I was teaching her was to keep her safe, and kept teaching until she got it. She is now almost 2, loves to play, can be walked without a leash, and listens most of the time. She's not perfect, but she continues to learn and grow. When I found God I was a lot like Gracie Lou when I first got her. I had a lot of fears, and a lot of bad behaviors.  It took me first believing, and then slowly I learned how to behave.  I'm still learning, as is my doggie, but while our lessons are different in nature they are similar. 

Don't get discouraged if you have the belief, but don't quite have the behavior all worked out. You are a work in process.  Remember Phillipians 1:6 "He who began a good work in you will continue it until the day of Jesus Christ." He is continually working on you and isn't finished with you yet. To be honest  I think we all will need to be working on our behavior until Jesus returns or we die because there is always something new to learn. Just remember that we only need progress not perfect. We are just to do today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today. We will make mistakes, we will forget lessons and have to relearn them, but we have a loving father who loves us way more than I love my dog, and is patient working on each of us. 

How has God grown you? Are you still working on the belief or the behavior or a little of both? 

Let me know how I can be praying for you. 

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God bless xox