Make it Match
Make It Match: Living a Life of Authentic Faith
In a world where authenticity seems increasingly rare, there's a powerful biblical principle that challenges us to examine the alignment between our words, thoughts, and actions. This principle is simple yet profound: make it match. The concept comes from an intriguing passage in Exodus 28:15, where God instructs the Israelites to create a breastpiece for seeking decisions from Him—and it was to be made to match the ephod, crafted with great skill using finely woven linen embroidered with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread. This wasn't just about fashion; it was about consistency, unity, and purpose in our spiritual lives.
As we navigate the closing days of any year and look toward new beginnings, this message becomes especially relevant. We set goals, make resolutions, and dream of better versions of ourselves. Perhaps we wanted to lose weight, advance in our careers, start a business, or even break free from negative habits. Some goals were met; others fell by the wayside. But here's the beautiful truth: we still have time, and more importantly, we have grace.
The Foundation: Character That Reflects Christ
Character is where authenticity begins. It's not just about what we do when people are watching—it's about who we are when no one sees. Our character encompasses our conversation, our walk, and how we live both publicly and privately.
Consider this: does your behavior at home match your behavior in public? Does your conduct at church align with your conduct at work? The way we carry ourselves directly impacts the fruit we bear in our lives. When there's a disconnect between our public persona and private reality, people notice. More importantly, our witness for Christ becomes compromised.
Romans 5:4 reminds us that "endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation." Like building muscle through consistent exercise, character develops through persistent effort and endurance. When we cut corners or cheat the process, the results don't last. But when we put in the genuine work, we develop a confident hope that permeates everything we do. The question we must ask ourselves is simple: What would Jesus do? How would Jesus respond in this situation? When family members irritate us, when coworkers test our patience, when circumstances push us to our limits—would our response reflect Christ?
Philippians 1:11 speaks of being "filled with the fruit of your salvation, the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ." This righteous character isn't something we manufacture through willpower alone; it's produced in us by Christ as we immerse ourselves in His Word. The nastiness, negativity, and impurity that might lurk within us can be washed away when we desire transformation and pursue it through Scripture.
Our character will be tested. Second Corinthians 2:9 acknowledges this reality, noting that tests come "to see if you're obedient to everything." These tests might come in small moments—finding money that doesn't belong to us, having an opportunity to gossip, or facing a choice between convenience and integrity. As we grow in God, He gives us the strength and endurance to pass these tests. Protecting our name and reputation isn't about pride; it's about stewardship. When our character has integrity, people can trust us. They want to be around us. And critically, they can see Christ in us.
The Activator: Faith That Moves Mountains
If character is the foundation, faith is the activator. Faith is our trust, confidence, belief, and reliance—not in ourselves, not in our circumstances, but in God alone. Jesus said it plainly in Mark 11:22: "Have faith in God." Not faith in people, not faith in material things, but faith in God. This faith must be our focus and the driving force in our lives. Without faith, Scripture tells us, it's impossible to please God. Faith requires us to speak differently about our circumstances. When our bodies are under attack, faith declares healing. When finances look bleak, faith declares provision. When relationships seem broken, faith declares restoration. This isn't denial of reality—it's alignment with a higher reality, the truth of God's Word that supersedes our temporary circumstances.
The story in Acts 3 powerfully illustrates faith in action. Peter and John encountered a man lame from birth, begging at the temple gate. Peter's response has echoed through centuries: "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, I give to thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Immediately—that word is crucial—the man's feet and ankle bones received strength. He went from begging to leaping, from sitting to praising God. This notable miracle required faith—faith from Peter and John to speak the impossible, and faith from the lame man to respond. Sometimes we need that same kind of faith that causes us to leap and praise God even when circumstances haven't fully changed. There's something powerful about praising your way through difficulty, about declaring victory before you see it with natural eyes. Faith makes things match. It aligns our words with God's promises, our expectations with His character, and our declarations with His Word.
The Guide: Holy Spirit Who Teaches All Things
Character provides the foundation, faith activates the power, but we need a guide to navigate it all—the Holy Spirit. Luke 12:12 promises that "the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said." There's a power source that comes with receiving the Holy Spirit, a subsequent experience to salvation that transforms how we live. We don't have to figure everything out on our own. The Holy Spirit teaches us, opens our understanding, and helps us seize opportunities we might otherwise miss. Acts 10:38 tells us that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."
The same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus is available to us. This Spirit arrests us, keeping us from saying and doing things we shouldn't. He leads us and guides us into all truth. He gives us power—power not to retaliate, power to love the unlovable, power to overcome oppression. Yes, even Christians can be oppressed by the enemy. But there is deliverance. The Holy Spirit brings freedom. Jude 1:20 encourages us to build ourselves up "on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost." Praying in the Spirit builds us up when we're down, strengthens us when we're weak, and connects our spirit directly to God when we don't know what to pray. It's a powerful practice that transforms our spiritual vitality.
Making It All Match
As we move forward, whether closing one season or beginning another, the call remains: make it match. What comes out of our mouths must align with what we believe. Our actions must reflect our faith. Our character must display Christ. We cannot feed doubt and unbelief while expecting to walk in victory. We must get laser-focused on God's Word, recognizing that negative words rob us of the victory Christ has already won for us. Isaiah 40:29-31 offers this magnificent promise: "He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Your today is great. Your tomorrow and future are bright. When it feels like nothing is working, delete that thought and replace it with God's Word. Lean into your faith. Lean into the Holy Spirit. Develop the righteous character that makes a difference. God will take care of you. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. And that joy, when it matches your faith and character, changes everything—from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet.
Make it match, and watch God move.
As we navigate the closing days of any year and look toward new beginnings, this message becomes especially relevant. We set goals, make resolutions, and dream of better versions of ourselves. Perhaps we wanted to lose weight, advance in our careers, start a business, or even break free from negative habits. Some goals were met; others fell by the wayside. But here's the beautiful truth: we still have time, and more importantly, we have grace.
The Foundation: Character That Reflects Christ
Character is where authenticity begins. It's not just about what we do when people are watching—it's about who we are when no one sees. Our character encompasses our conversation, our walk, and how we live both publicly and privately.
Consider this: does your behavior at home match your behavior in public? Does your conduct at church align with your conduct at work? The way we carry ourselves directly impacts the fruit we bear in our lives. When there's a disconnect between our public persona and private reality, people notice. More importantly, our witness for Christ becomes compromised.
Romans 5:4 reminds us that "endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation." Like building muscle through consistent exercise, character develops through persistent effort and endurance. When we cut corners or cheat the process, the results don't last. But when we put in the genuine work, we develop a confident hope that permeates everything we do. The question we must ask ourselves is simple: What would Jesus do? How would Jesus respond in this situation? When family members irritate us, when coworkers test our patience, when circumstances push us to our limits—would our response reflect Christ?
Philippians 1:11 speaks of being "filled with the fruit of your salvation, the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ." This righteous character isn't something we manufacture through willpower alone; it's produced in us by Christ as we immerse ourselves in His Word. The nastiness, negativity, and impurity that might lurk within us can be washed away when we desire transformation and pursue it through Scripture.
Our character will be tested. Second Corinthians 2:9 acknowledges this reality, noting that tests come "to see if you're obedient to everything." These tests might come in small moments—finding money that doesn't belong to us, having an opportunity to gossip, or facing a choice between convenience and integrity. As we grow in God, He gives us the strength and endurance to pass these tests. Protecting our name and reputation isn't about pride; it's about stewardship. When our character has integrity, people can trust us. They want to be around us. And critically, they can see Christ in us.
The Activator: Faith That Moves Mountains
If character is the foundation, faith is the activator. Faith is our trust, confidence, belief, and reliance—not in ourselves, not in our circumstances, but in God alone. Jesus said it plainly in Mark 11:22: "Have faith in God." Not faith in people, not faith in material things, but faith in God. This faith must be our focus and the driving force in our lives. Without faith, Scripture tells us, it's impossible to please God. Faith requires us to speak differently about our circumstances. When our bodies are under attack, faith declares healing. When finances look bleak, faith declares provision. When relationships seem broken, faith declares restoration. This isn't denial of reality—it's alignment with a higher reality, the truth of God's Word that supersedes our temporary circumstances.
The story in Acts 3 powerfully illustrates faith in action. Peter and John encountered a man lame from birth, begging at the temple gate. Peter's response has echoed through centuries: "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, I give to thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Immediately—that word is crucial—the man's feet and ankle bones received strength. He went from begging to leaping, from sitting to praising God. This notable miracle required faith—faith from Peter and John to speak the impossible, and faith from the lame man to respond. Sometimes we need that same kind of faith that causes us to leap and praise God even when circumstances haven't fully changed. There's something powerful about praising your way through difficulty, about declaring victory before you see it with natural eyes. Faith makes things match. It aligns our words with God's promises, our expectations with His character, and our declarations with His Word.
The Guide: Holy Spirit Who Teaches All Things
Character provides the foundation, faith activates the power, but we need a guide to navigate it all—the Holy Spirit. Luke 12:12 promises that "the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said." There's a power source that comes with receiving the Holy Spirit, a subsequent experience to salvation that transforms how we live. We don't have to figure everything out on our own. The Holy Spirit teaches us, opens our understanding, and helps us seize opportunities we might otherwise miss. Acts 10:38 tells us that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."
The same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus is available to us. This Spirit arrests us, keeping us from saying and doing things we shouldn't. He leads us and guides us into all truth. He gives us power—power not to retaliate, power to love the unlovable, power to overcome oppression. Yes, even Christians can be oppressed by the enemy. But there is deliverance. The Holy Spirit brings freedom. Jude 1:20 encourages us to build ourselves up "on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost." Praying in the Spirit builds us up when we're down, strengthens us when we're weak, and connects our spirit directly to God when we don't know what to pray. It's a powerful practice that transforms our spiritual vitality.
Making It All Match
As we move forward, whether closing one season or beginning another, the call remains: make it match. What comes out of our mouths must align with what we believe. Our actions must reflect our faith. Our character must display Christ. We cannot feed doubt and unbelief while expecting to walk in victory. We must get laser-focused on God's Word, recognizing that negative words rob us of the victory Christ has already won for us. Isaiah 40:29-31 offers this magnificent promise: "He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Your today is great. Your tomorrow and future are bright. When it feels like nothing is working, delete that thought and replace it with God's Word. Lean into your faith. Lean into the Holy Spirit. Develop the righteous character that makes a difference. God will take care of you. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. And that joy, when it matches your faith and character, changes everything—from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet.
Make it match, and watch God move.
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