As we came out of the condo to go to brunch the rain was pounding. We had no raincoats or umbrellas so Mom wore her jacket and sun hat to get to the parking lot. While we were waiting for my cousin, Donna, to bring the car as close as possible, we noticed the cleaning lady also waiting for a ride. We smiled and spoke and she told us she did not speak much English. A man pulled up and as he walked up she started speaking Spanish to him. He got an umbrella out, took hold of Mom's arm and smiled at her. The smile said it all. Then the lady pointed to Mom's wrist and said, "careful". He nodded. I ran to the car and opened the door as he slowly walked mom to the car taking such care of her! All the while the lady waited for him. When he and mom got to the car, Donna was taking a picture and they were both grinning! Mom leaned over to hug him and tell him thank you and he kissed her on the head, all in the pouring rain. We had made another friend!
As we drove off we were all talking about how sweet that was. The lady saw a need and filled it. No words were needed. We could not communicate through language but we did not need to. 1 John 3: 18, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." I immediately thought of "actions speak louder than words." It is an old English saying that dates back to the 1700's. I am not so sure this phrase didn't begin in the Bible.
The book of James states that we demonstrate our faith through our actions. James 2:15-17, "Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.16 If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." It goes on to explain that we can not have faith without deeds. James 2: 18, "But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deed. I read that when we communicate with each other we communicate: 7% with our words; 35% with our tone of voice and 58% with our actions.
Jesus tells us in John 14: 15, “If you love me, keep my commands." It is not enough to say we love God we must show we love God. When our love for Him is genuine we want to obey Him! James 1: 22, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." Jesus showed us how to love through action when He washed the disciples feet. He showed us how to love through action as He served alongside them. Even the disciples were overtaken by His humility and devotion to them. God did not just tell us of his love—he sent his Son to die for us. Matthew 20: 28, "...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
That gentleman preached a sermon to me and never had to say a word.