Occasionally, I like to drift back to a much younger time in my life. I was 17 years old when I committed my life to the Call of God.

I had the privilege of meeting Evangelist Harold Leake. He took me under his wing during two weeks of Revival (yes, they used to have those) to mentor me. Rev. Leake was also a singer-song writer.

He had a song he wrote hit No. 1 on the Southern Gospel Charts; recorded by The Kingsmen Quartet, it remained there for over 18 months. The name of the song was “Excuses,” a humorous tune about all the different excuses folks had given him over the years for not attending Church.

He shared with me another thought he wanted to put to music. Another group has since recorded it but in that song was that phrase that Bro. Leake shared with me. The line he said was more than cute. It was convicting.

Your Walk Talks and

Your Talk Talks

but Your Walk Talks

more than Your Talk Talks

In a nutshell, what you do speaks louder than what you say. Some have heard it another way: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

In some faith circles, there is what some call a conflict between the writing of the Apostle Paul and that of James (the half-brother of Jesus. Same mom, very different dad).

 In the letter of Ephesians, Paul pens an often-quoted verse, Ephesians 2:8-9

8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9.  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

On the pages of James in the second chapter verses 14;17-18 we read,

14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

17.  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18.   Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

You can see where one might be confused and even suggest a conflict or error in the Scripture. However, that cannot be true. The Scriptures have no errors.

If I ever read passages that confuse, I just ask the Lord to show me where I am wrong because for sure it isn’t the Scripture.

Do these two agree. Yes. In the simplest understanding Paul is sharing concerning Saving Faith. Salvation is a gift from God by Grace. Grace is the Undeserved Favor or Unearned Favor of God. We receive this Saving Faith, by Faith, Believing God. It is not by what we do, but by what Jesus did!

James discusses a serving faith. We show our saving faith by our serving faith.

It is true, belief determines behavior. Believers shouldn’t be sharing excuses; believers should be showing examples.

Keep walkin’ and talkin’.