Skip to main content

1 John 3:18: Let Us Love . . . In Deed and In Truth


1 John 3:18
[18] Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (ESV)

If you go to any Hallmark store you can find hundreds of cards full of words of love. Many a young man has purchased a card full of beautiful words thinking that those words can sway the heart of a young woman. Others have tried their hand at writing their own beautiful words for their beloved.  And yet, our divorce rate in this country is almost 50%. I am sure that in all of those marriages, at one point or another, loving words were spoken.  But words are not enough.

John says that words and talk are inadequate in loving others completely.  We must take action.  To use this illustration of married couples the fact is that if we do not back up our words with actions our spouse will not feel loved at all.  Many couples come to divorce because they say they do not have feelings of love any more.  The reason the feelings are gone is because the actions of love are gone.

Feelings follow actions.  If we want to feel loved we need to experience the actions of love.  I always recommend to struggling married couples is to perform loving actions toward their spouse whether they feel it or not. Act loving.  Over time amazing things happen.  Feelings come back.  Why?  Because actions speak louder than words.

Now, the Apostle John was not speaking of marriage in this verse.  But the principles in the marriage illustration apply.  We must act in loving ways, not just talk about love.  Look at your neighbor. Are you loving them? Or is it all talk?

Consider those whom you work with; those whom you live with; those whom you meet in your neighborhood.  Find ways to show them Christ's love in ACTION, not just words.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

James 2:18: I Will Show You My Faith By My Works

James 2:18 [18] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV) There are certain things in life that go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Double stuff Oreo cookies and milk. Faith and works. James raises the point that someone might argue that faith and works can be separated. "One will say, "You have faith and I have works." Is it ok for works to be separated from faith? James is making the argument that faith and works are not to be separated. James is saying to the one who has faith only, with no works, that he wants them to see his faith by his works. In other words, if you are going to claim to have faith, but have no works, you have no evidence of faith. If I am to believe that a person has genuine faith I can only see that by their works. Faith brings action. There are so many people to claim to have some kind of faith, yet when it comes down to it, their