| “…let us not love with words or speech…” |
| —1 John 3:18 |
Have you ever heard this old adage?
“Your actions are so loud, I can’t hear what you’re saying.”
The most common words out of an abuser’s mouth are “I love you!” Whether the abuser is a parent, a spouse, a relative, or a friend, such an abuser often wraps his or her abhorrent behavior in words of love.
In stark contrast, God has not only told us He loves us, He has demonstrated that love for us over and over down through history. He has cared for and protected those He loves. He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die in our place on a cruel Roman cross of torture. God’s demonstration of love seemingly knows no boundaries. His acts of love could easily fill every page of every book that has ever been written. This reality prompted the Apostle John to write these words, found in 1 John 3:18:
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
God has clearly set the example for us. As we begin another day, let’s make a conscious effort to follow His example and heed the Apostle John’s words. Let’s show our love to God and to others by what we do, as well as by what we say. We must not simply speak words of love to God and to those He brings across our pathway. Instead, our words must become magnified by our behavior. God has set the pattern for us. We do well to follow that pattern.
Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, February 4, 2016
