If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God's love be in that person? 1 John 3:17
Today, we often say the word "love" flippantly. One minute, we end a conversation on the phone saying "love you," the next, we say that we love the pasta or dessert we are eating. The truth is, however, that "love" carries much more meaning and value than we often give it. In fact, when we say that we love someone, we are expected to demonstrate actions to prove that what we said is true. This idea, that love is expressed with words and actions, is not new. In fact, John writes about it in 1 John 3.
"If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need," John writes, "but shows no compassion—how can God's love be in that person?" (1 John 3:17). He writes this knowing that true love has actions that demonstrate that love. You see, if a person claims to love God and others, but their actions prove otherwise, most will struggle to believe their love is true. That kind of lifestyle is inconsistent. It does not match up to what you claim to believe.
My friend, this call to love people with our words and actions is still true for us today. We are still called to live consistent lives, living in such a way that we truly live out what we say we believe. We are called to love people with our words and our actions. After all, it is one thing to say we love someone; it is a whole other thing to show that we love. We show we love when we meet needs. We show we love when we listen instead of constantly talk. We show we love when we look out for the interest of other people instead of our own. Let's be people who love others well.
Let's take a few minutes and think about how we are living out this call to love others with our words and actions. How are you doing, personally? How can you improve? Let's be people who are dedicated to showing how much we love by our actions. Why not go through your closet or food pantry and find items you can donate to our community connect program, a ministry which brings needed food, clothing, and personal care items to Albuquerque neighborhoods.
Read 1 John 3:18-24 (NLT)
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.
Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.
And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.
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