Listen

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are disorderly. Comfort the discouraged. Help the weak. Be patient with everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:14

Think

Growing up, my dad would always say to me, “Your actions will speak louder than your words.” I didn’t really understand what that meant at a young age. Honestly, I thought he was just trying to get me to talk less. As I got older, though, I started to understand a little more of what those words meant.

Several times throughout the Bible, Jesus uses his actions to captivate people who failed to listen to his words. Matthew 15:31 says, “The crowd was amazed when they saw those who had been unable to speak talking, and the paralyzed cured, and the injured walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.” This scripture shows that what really held people’s attention were the actions God was performing through Jesus.

As we go back to school, I challenge you to think about this scripture from 1 Thessalonians. Make a new friend, guide someone who looks lost, or sit with someone new at the lunch table. Whatever it is, remember that your actions speak louder than words, and the loudest actions are done in the name of Jesus.

Elizabeth Richie

Pray

God, I pray that you will remind me that my actions will always speak louder than my words. Please lead me to comfort the discouraged, help the weak, and be patient with everyone, just as you have told me to do. In your son’s name, I pray, amen.

Go

God of Grace, be the light that guides us.

God of Peace, be the strength that carries us.

God of Love, be the tie that binds us.

Together.