The bible always links "believing" to "behavior." Let’s take a look at Joel 2:12-13 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm." (NKJV)
What does the Lord mean? In this culture, when a person was filled with sorrow, they would rip and tear their clothes as a symbol of inner grief. The Lord knew that outside behavior can be faked even while your heart is not right. You can go to church, read your Bible when you feel like, pray, and even say, “Have a Blessed Day.” You can do all of this and your heart is not right with God and He knows it. Or on the other hand you walk around with a cross hanging on your keychain, religious bumper stickers plastered on your car, and listen to all the gospel radio stations. But when you neighbor needs help, you don’t have the time. You have road rage and have even been known to give the other driver a “not so nice” hand signal. We want to win the lost for the Lord, but they won't listen to us because they see the glaring inconsistency between our message and our lifestyle. Christian means Christ like. He knows are heart and if He is truly living in our heart we can walk in alignment with His word. And believe people will notice you will be set apart from the world.
The time for change has come. Our walk must begin to match our talk. Let nonbelievers want what they see in you…Jesus Christ.