Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth. – 1 John 3:18
A superficial reading of today’s verse could lead you to think, “Oh yes, I need to do some good deeds today to show my love for God.” While good deeds may show that you love the Lord, action alone does not take into account the Scripture that precedes this verse and the obligations associated with it.
Who are the children of God and what makes them so special? It is the truth they know about their Savior and the truth that lives within them. One truth is that God loves all people – they are made in His image – and believers are to reflect the love for them that God has. Christ came from the glories of Heaven to live among sinners, and He showed His great love for people by dying on the cross to save them all.
Bible commentator Matthew Henry wrote: “A world so beloved of God should accordingly be loved by us. And this love will exert itself in earnest desires and prayers… for their salvation.” In addition to kind words that give comfort, kind actions show that the truth is in you. “By this we know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him” (1 John 3:19).
The Lord has blessed you with His love, and because you know the Truth, and He lives within you, you are to love as He loves. And He has blessed you so you can be a blessing to those around you. Pray for this nation and for those government officials who have been deceived to have a spiritual awakening. May they realize the love Jesus has for them and accept Him today.
Today’s Verse: 1 John 3:18
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 John 3:11-19
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
