The Christian Walk: Being vs. Doing

When it comes to living as a Christian, there is a difference between being and doing.

“God is love” (1 John 4:8). That is who He is.

“God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16). That is what He did. God did out of who He is.

Like God, we also do out of who and what we are. “For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). When we put the emphasis on what we do instead of what we are, we have things backwards.

Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). That is a “be” command, not a “do” command.

Here is another “be” command: “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written, ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

The model for being perfect and being holy is God. This being precedes our doing.

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