What are your actions speaking to others? What is your lifestyle saying? You may speak the words of Christianity, but actions speak louder than words.
John the Baptist protected himself from worldly influences.
“John did not feel strong enough to stand the great pressure of temptation he would meet in society. He feared his character would be molded according to the prevailing customs. … In the wilderness, John could the more readily deny himself and bring his appetite under control, and dress in accordance to natural simplicity. And there was nothing in the wilderness that would take his mind from meditation and prayer. Satan had access to John, even after he had closed every avenue in his power through which he would enter. But his habits of life were so pure and natural that he could discern the foe, and had strength of spirit and decision of character to resist him.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, 47. [Emphasis supplied.]
“If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong, and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.” Mind, Character and Personality, vol. 2, 660.’ ‘
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord …” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
If actions truly speak louder than words, then, like John the Baptist, we must pull away from the world and its lifestyles, its ways of eating, drinking and living so that we may be under the control of the Holy Spirit and not under the control of the unholy spirit. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15).
“… a man may profess to believe the truth of the soon coming of the Saviour, that the end of all things is at hand; but who will care for that, so long as he acts as though he was expecting a great while to come; so long as he continues absorbed in his worldly interests, and is heaping up treasures to himself, adding house to house, and land to land? A person’s life never lies; and whatever he preaches by this, no amount of profession or precept will counteract; for ‘actions speak louder than words.’ But when he begins to live out this belief, when he is willing to let himself and his possessions be a consuming sacrifice upon the altar of the Lord, when he is active and energetic in warning his fellow-men of the wrath to come, and presents in all his actions an example consistent with his profession, there is a sensation at once in the ranks of the enemy.” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 7, March 13, 1856, 188.
“Be not deceived …” (Galatians 6:7).
Do not be led astray by the customs and actions of the world which seem to be okay because a multitude is following them. “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil …” (Exodus 23:2). If your thoughts and actions are more on worldly ways than on the Lord and His ways, you have been deceived! Your actions speak louder!
Heavenly Father: Do not allow me to be so involved with worldly interests that I am drawn away from Your presence and led astray by the customs and actions of the spirit of this world and thus people will not be touched by Your Holy Spirit through me. Oh the terrible loss of souls because my worldly actions may speak louder than my words. Lord, remove the worldly ways from my heart that You may shine through. Amen.