When it comes to living as a Christian, there is a differencebetween 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 iswhat He did. God did out of who He is.

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

Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your HeavenlyFather 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 isholy, 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 beingprecedes our doing.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships