I read this testimony on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer today, and I thought I would post it as a challenge to us all.

In 1943 SS officers broke into the church where Dietrich Bonhoeffer was preaching and hauled him off to a concentration camp.  Upon his arrival, the commandment said, "Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the famous preacher and writer, come up here and address the assembly.  I will give you two minutes."

"I don't need two minutes," Bonhoeffer said, "just two words: 'Watch me.'"  

Although the Nazis beat him mercilessly, every time they lifted a hand or used a club, Bonhoeffer would smile, lift his eyes toward heaven, and say, "Father, forgive them.  They know not what they do."  He shared a portion of every meal with either a fellow prisoner or one of the Nazi guards.  He was constantly smiling, constantly praying, constantly loving – to the point that revival began to break out in the concentration camp.  It wasn't because of a word he said, but because of what he did.

May the Lord our God empower us to love not in word only, but also (and more importantly) in deed.  If people watched my life…I wonder, would they come to Christ? (1 John 3:18).  Words are necessary, but I remember hearing it said, "They won't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

God bless and keep you!

p.s. – If you want to read on the life of Bonhoeffer – a recommended book is The Cost of Discipleship