LOVE IS AN ACTION WORD

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Dear children, let us not love with words
or tongue, but with actions and in truth.
(1 John 3:18)

MEDITATION:
How would you describe love? Chances are that if you asked five
people to describe love, you would get five different descriptions.
Some would say love is a commitment. Others would say love is
an emotional attachment to another person. You might hear love
described as faithfulness to a spouse. Some equate love to sex, and
others say it is providing for your family. More than likely there
are some who would say that love, is Jesus.
    Whoever does not love does not
    know God, because God is love.
    (1 John 4:8)

No matter what description you like best, the scriptures tell us
that ‘love’ is an action word. It doesn’t mean that saying we love
someone is insincere, but love needs to be ‘shown’ as well. Those
who are followers of Jesus should mimic the love He showed to
others. God showed His love for us when He sent His Son to die
on the cross, and Jesus echoed the love of God when He sacrificed
Himself for our sins. We should learn to love others as God loves us.

As an example of our lack of love, someone may offend us and we
respond by ‘writing them off’ as a friend (or sometimes even as a
family member). Even worse, we might tell others about what they
did as an attempt to change their opinion of the person in a negative
way. Is that the kind of love God showed for us? No, it isn’t! God’s
love is greater than our mistakes, and He expects His followers to
show the same kind of love for others that He has for them, and us.

Whenever we ‘come to Christ’, we are given a supernatural love
that is driven by the Holy Spirit. The scriptures tell us that the
greatest demonstration of our authenticity as a Christian, is how
we love one another. Of all the gifts God offers His children, love
is the greatest. Of all the fruits of the Holy Spirit, love is first.
Love can solve problems when nothing else works.

When the scriptures tell us to love “in truth”, it means we need to have
a sincere love for others. The sincerity of our love can be measured by
how we respond to those who have wronged us in some way, those who
do the things that we don’t like, and those we have prejudices against.
True love is willing to sacrifice winning a disagreement in order to
keep the peace, and maintain a relationship.

If we are having trouble with obedience to the Lord, Jesus tells
us that it can be a result of having a lack of love in our lives.
    Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.
    These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the
    Father who sent me.
    (John 14:24)

Look at these scriptures regarding love:
    This is how we know who the children of God are
    and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who
    does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is
    anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
    (1 John 3:10)

    We know that we have passed from death to life,
    because we love each other. Anyone who does
    not love remains in death.
    (1 John 3:14)

In Romans, we are told that the level of love we have in our hearts
is an indication of how much we have allowed the Holy Spirit to be
an influence in what we do and say. Love can be a confirmation of
our salvation, because we have received the Holy Spirit poured out
into our hearts.
    And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s
    love has been poured out into our hearts through the
    Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
    (Romans 5:5)

ACTION:
How are you doing with loving others? Do you look for opportunities
to show others that you love them? Think of how you can show someone
you love them without expecting anything (including love) in return.
Make a phone call, text them, send a card, or email just to encourage
someone.

Maybe there is someone who needs transportation (to church, doctor, etc.)
and you can show love by offering to take them where they need to go.
Perhaps you can take a meal to someone who is sick or disabled. Or,
how about showing love by forgiving someone who has wronged you?
When is the last time you encouraged someone (including anyone who
is not in your close circle of friends)?

How many of these evidences of love do you have,
and how many are missing?
Love,
    – does no harm to a neighbor
    – is patient
    – is kind
    – does not envy
    – does not boast
    – is not prideful (egotistical)
    – does not delight in evil
    – rejoices in the truth
    – has self-discipline

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so much that You
sent Your Son to the cross for my sins. Teach me to love others
in the same way You love me. Help me to show others my love
for them through my actions. Create in me a forgiving heart,
and remind me of how You forgive me for my sins (which are
committed against You). Develop real love in my heart – a love
that is active and forgiving.”

BLOG: utvolwoody.com