SIGNALS

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. —Matthew 26:48

A signal is a gesture, action, or sound that is used to convey information or instructions. Judas used a kiss as a signal to the enemies of Christ to indicate who they should arrest.

Our actions send various signals all the time.  The way you live sends a signal to those around you without you saying a word.  Your actions tell others your beliefs even when your lips don’t say them.

James says your faith, or lack of faith sends a signal— “A man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Peter said the actions of a wife can win her husband without her saying a word (1 Pet. 3:1). As one preacher put it, “Your life is your message.” What message is your life sending?

For example: When you refuse to support missions you are sending a signal that the work of missions is not important. When you skip a church service you are sending a signal that whatever I’m doing at the time is more important than what is going on at church.

When you neglect reading your Bible everyday, what signal are you sending?

When you seldom spend time in private prayer, what signal are you sending?

I recently came across the following quote: “Any religion that does not consider itself valuable enough to share it with nonbelievers is fated to crumble from within.” Who said that? It was not a preacher. It was not even a Christian.  It was spoken by a Jew, Yosef Abramowitz, as a warning to fellow Jews that if Jews fail to proselytize it sends “a signal that Judaism isn’t worth spreading to others.” [Taking on the Southern Baptists, in Moment, Dec. 1999, pp. 34-35]

The same thing can be said of Christians. When we fail to spread the Gospel, we are sending a signal that the Gospel isn’t worth spreading.  When we don’t tell others what Jesus has done in our lives, we are sending a signal that Jesus is not worth sharing with others because He hasn’t made a significant difference in our lives. Think about it!

What kind of signals is your life sending?