Both/And

     Yesterday was the anniversary of my marriage to Bonnie. 23 years. In worship we have testimony time, several people had shared things God had been doing. I was waiting to share about our anniversary. There was a long pause and before I could say something, Bonnie stood up and shared that she was married to a wonderful husband for the past 23 years. Then I stood up and said, "Hey, I was gonna say that, well not husband but wife." Laughter broke out. I've been thinking about that moment. That was very typical of our relationship. Bonnie is, more times than not, the outspoken one and I am, mostly, more standoffish. 
     So,am I, are we, the same way about our love for our Savior and our Heavenly Father? We will readily tell people, even strangers, that we love a certain sports team or movie or t.v. show or cereal or whatever. But I am not as bold in sharing not only my love for my wife, whom I do love deeply, but also my love for Jesus. People are supposed to just know, right? Unfortunately, I believe we've abused Augustine's quote, "Preach the Gospel, if necessary use words."
     Can people tell we are Christian by the way we live? Hopefully. Are we really any different? We live in a world full of "good", even "great" people; but without a true, life changing relationship with the Father through faith in the Son our "goodness" or "greatness" isn't enough. 
     "For there is no difference between Jew & Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all & richly blesses all who call on him, for "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have never heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching (telling, my interpretation) to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."...Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:12-15 &17
     So, I tell Bonnie I love her. I show Bonnie I love her through my actions. Is it either/or or both/and? It has to be both/and. There are times when Bonnie wants to hear, needs to hear, me say that I love her. She needs to hear those 3 words. And there are equally, maybe even more times, that she wants me, needs me, to show her I love her through my actions. 
     We have to do both. We have to tell and show. Not only in our own families do we need to tell and show them that we love them; but also to a lost and dying world who desperately needs to hear and be shown that they are loved by us and by their Heavenly Father, who loved them so much that He arranged a plan specifically for them to have a relationship that is true and living with Him. That relationship isn't only for now but for eternity.