Silencing words with deeds!

Reflecting on Mark 1:29-34

"He would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was." (Mark 1:34)
As a Jesus follower, I want people to know who Jesus is.
Why would Jesus want to silence the demons about who He was?
It is not that Jesus was hiding Himself from people.
The crowds were gathering and were amazed, wondering Who He was.

Maybe it was because of the danger of organized rebellion.
The people were desperate for someone to drive Rome out.
They were ready to take up arms for Israel and the Messiah.
If the wrong message got out, it would be disastrous.
Jesus did not come to incite a rebellion.
When He spoke, and sent others to speak, He spoke peace.

There is wisdom in how Jesus speaks less and acts more.
His actions reveal compassion, mercy, gentleness, kindness.
He is not just a talker so much as a doer.
"Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:18)

Many religious leaders make a name for themselves with their words.
Their name and fame spreads, and their following increases.
Often, it is more their words than their deeds that are known.
And sadly often, their deeds do not support their words.
When well-known religious leaders fall like this, it is disastrous.

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:26-27)

Words can be deceptive, to ourselves and to others.
But deeds are words in action, living words that produce living results.
This is what sets Jesus apart as the Living Word; He embodied God's truth.
Our churches are filled with spoken words, but what about embodied words?
Maybe for a season it would be wise for the church to be silenced.
If we would stop talking for a while, and just practice the Jesus Way.
"The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?" (Ecclesiastes 6:11)

Jesus is wise in keeping idle tongues from talking.
As a Jesus follower, I would be wise to speak less and love more.
This is our living witness to the Living Word.
This is the witness that will silence the evil spirits in our world.
And the world will know that we are His disciples...
Not because of our words, but because of our love in action!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, empty words cause more harm than good. Silence me and the church in this time of fake news, and use me and other Jesus followers to show the Way in how we serve, bless and heal others.

May Your kingdom come and Your will be done in our deeds, and not just in our words.