The radio broadcast the grim news as air raid sirens blared. The Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. My mother was only six years old and while she could not fully comprehend what happened, she saw the fear on the faces of her parents and her older sister. She was confused and frightened but my grandmother knew what to do. Without speaking a word to my mother and her family, she took the photograph of the Japanese emperor and the Japanese flag and burned it in the backyard.
Many years later, my mother recounted to me this harrowing account of that dark day for Hawaii and the United States. My grandmother spoke little English but her actions spoke far louder than any words she could have spoken.
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:18 (NKJV)
My grandmother’s swift actions made an indelible impression upon my mother. Many years later, the unselfish sacrifice of my college classmate made a similar impression upon me. For an entire semester, he spent hours with me explaining the Bible and showing me that Jesus Christ is God. No friend or teacher had ever devoted so much time to me. This meant more to him than studying and even spending time with his other friends. Through this brother’s example, God led me to confess and repent of my sins and accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
Actions do speak louder than words.
God calls every believer to set an example of faith working in our lives and that of others. As the great Protestant theologian John Calvin stated, “Faith alone saves but faith that saves is never alone.”
Amen!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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