Last week I was reading Scripture. I happen to be reading the Gospel of Mark right now so I was working my way through Chapter 7 and read the following:

“This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.”

When I read the words, it was a reminder that I’ve wanted to write about this topic for some time. Interesting timing since this was the Gospel read at Mass this past weekend as well. Not coincidence, I am sure.

Christianity can be funny sometimes. How often do you see people turned off by christians or even experience that yourself? Christians, with good intention, want for people to fall in love with the Lord and sometimes that provokes them to ram their beliefs down the throats of those around them. What a turn off, right? The only thing that ends up doing is send people running in the other direction.

So, what then is the best way to bring people to the Lord?

To live your faith authentically. To draw close to the Lord in your own life so your heart can be filled with Him. When your heart is full of the Lord, it can’t help but overflow to those around you. Not just in conversation about christianity, but in every facet of your life – all the things you are comprised of, and all the actions of your day to day. Not only should your heart be full so as to overflow, but your actions should reflect the convictions you hold. It is in living by example that you draw people in, inviting them to partake in what you have.

What’s happening on the outside must reflect what is happening on the inside. 

The words that escape your lips must reflect the love that is in your heart. Can you apply what you’ve read to the workings of your life? Can you live it?

Knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus are two very, very different things.

Get to know Jesus. Get to know Him through prayer and Scripture and conversation in your heart. Whatever it takes for you to draw close and enter into real, deep, and true relationship with the Lord, do that. It doesn’t have to be the same way for you as it is for everyone else. You are different than everyone else and you will commune with the Lord in different ways than other people – whether it be slightly different or vastly different. That’s ok. In fact, the unique ways in which you communicate with the Lord will likely be the key to unlocking a deep and meaningful relationship with Him.

Oh, and be patient with yourself. This is a lifelong process. Like any relationship, it’s a slow progression with many ups and downs. You will never master it, you are human. Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to experience all the emotions that come along with the process. Feel it and feel it fully. God is a big boy, He can handle it. Plus, He already knows what you’re feeling, the process of allowing yourself to feel what you’re feeling is for you. It will give you freedom. It will bring you to authenticity. It’s a gift of living as the best kind of christian you can be – your truest self.

Tap into that. Allow what your lips say and what your heart believes to be in sync.