The Christian Walk: Being vs. Doing

When it comes to living as a Christian, there is a difference
between being and doing.

“God is love” (1 John 4:8). That is who He is.

“God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16). That is
what He did. God did out of who He is.

Like God, we also do out of who and what we are. “For
out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). When we put the
emphasis on what we do instead of what we are, we have things
backwards.

Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly
Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). That is a “be” command, not a “do” command.

Here is another “be” command: “But just as He who called you is
holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written, ‘Be holy,
because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

The model for being perfect and being holy is God. This being
precedes our doing.