Good morning. It’s Tuesday, March 10th, aka National Mario Day.

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— 1 John 3:18

Have you ever heard of this quote made famous by Benjamin Franklin?

It goes, “Well done is better than well said.”

In simple terms, it means actually doing something carries more weight than simply saying something.

But if we take the quote as literally as possible, it gets even deeper. If someone were congratulating you, which would you rather hear: “well said” or “well done”?

Most likely, you’d rather hear “well done,” because it means something real was actually accomplished rather than simply said.

But does the Bible actually say anything like this?

Actually, yes. In fact, just two verses after one of the most famous verses in the Bible (John 3:16), we read this in 1 John 3:18:

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

In simple terms, this verse means that love should not only be spoken. It should be shown through what we do.

And we have talked about something similar before, the idea of making sure our actions match our words. That comes from James 1:22, which says:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

But 1 John 3:18 and James 1:22 take that idea a step further. They encourage us not only to make sure our words and actions line up, but to lead with our actions rather than our words.

Jesus Christ also explains why actions matter so much in Matthew 7:16, which says:

“By their fruit you will recognize them.”

In other words, our actions reveal what is really in our hearts. Anyone can say the right thing, but what we consistently do shows what we truly believe.

But why is this important?

Because our actions show whether our faith is real. As it says in James 2:17,

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

In other words, words alone can say anything, but actions reveal what we truly believe. That is why we should lead with actions over words.

So the question is simple: are you being told “well done” or “well said”?

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Confession: Forgive me when my words are better than my actions.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for teaching us how to live out our faith.

Supplication: Help my actions reflect what I believe.

In Jesus name, Amen

“Surrender” by Kai Uriah

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God