10. Active love…
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18
I call this chapter of John’s first letter the “love’ chapter. It is full of references to what it means to love and be loved. Take a few moments now to read all of chapter 3…
The first reference comes right at the beginning of the chapter:
See what great love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And then again in verse 16:
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
These examples of the kind of love God and his Son, Jesus, have for us shows us clearly how love is not shown through just words but also through action. God demonstrates his love through his actions – he lavishes his love on us. There is abundance, over-the-top extravagance in the way he loves us. Nothing is too much for him to do for us. He even gave his only Son for us. Action all the way.
And, so, John calls on us to be as extravagant as God in our love for others. Words and speeches are all good and well, but they must be backed up by action. It is one thing to tell people they need this or that or even that you love them but without demonstration of that concern, that love, the words are a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).
It’s not easy to step out of words and into action – it can be scary, confronting, challenging. It can mean sacrifice on our part.
In Matthew 25 Jesus tells his disciples that in helping the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, the imprisoned, they were also helping him. Love in action demonstrates our love and compassion not just to the person we are helping, but also to Jesus. Another example given to us by Jesus is that of the good Samaritan (Luke 10) who comes to the aid of the Jewish man who has been bashed and robbed. Those who we would expect to help the man – a priest, a temple assistant, both fellow Jews – just pass him by as they go about their religious duties. Love in action came from an unlikely source, a Samaritan man, who bandaged him, carried him to an inn, and paid for his care. Jesus pointed to this man as a true neighbour, the one who showed love and mercy and calls on us to do likewise.
Prayer: Lord, I confess the many times I have not helped another person in need. I have not loved them in action. I have chosen the comfortable way and walked on by like the priest and the temple assistant. I make excuses and hurry on by. My prayer is that you would so convict me with love for those in need around me that I must stop in my tracks and express that love in action.
Amen
Action: Today, ask God for the opportunity to show love in action. Be bold, be brave, and step out in love.
Journal your thoughts:
