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. However, there are some
who would say that love is, Jesus….and they are right!
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). In an attempt to change the opinion of others,
about a person, some will tell them what that person did to them.
They want others to develop a negative opinion of the person who
did them wrong. That’s not love, it’s the antithesis of love, which
is not a characteristic of Jesus, and His followers.
Love is an action word, but is that the kind of action we are to have?
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 peace, and maintain an amicable 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 on 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:
Questions to consider:
– How am I doing with loving others?
– Do I look for opportunities to show others that I 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)?
Which of these characteristics of love do you have,
and which ones 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
– absorbs the hurt from others, rather than defending,
arguing, or trying to hurt them in return
– 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. Show me how to proactively love
others. Create in me a forgiving heart, and remind me of how
You have forgiven me for my sins against You. Develop real
love in my heart – a love that is kind, active, and forgiving.”
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