Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. – 1 John 3:18
How often have you heard politicians, leaders, or news media say, when reporting on catastrophic events, “You are in our thoughts and prayers.” They may be referring to the people of a certain place—such as East Palestine, Ohio; Baltimore, Maryland; Haiti, Ukraine, Israel, or Taiwan—or they might be referencing the family of a slain first responder, a jailed journalist, or the victim of a violent crime. People make the statement, but is it true? Do they follow up with deeds of love? Maybe you have told an acquaintance, “I’ll be praying for you,” but only manage to say, “God bless my friend.” How true are you to your words?
The kind of love God calls you to show others is practical. It combines love, compassion, nurture, care, and concern with kind actions that such love empowers. Love is a choice to be a truth-teller and a person of action. When true Christian love is part of your daily lifestyle, God is glorified. The more you exhibit a Christ-like love to others, the greater your own intimacy with Him becomes. Your confidence in God grows as you extend such love.
So, you may say you are praying for the people of Haiti, and when your church announces mission efforts there, contribute to it as you are able. And, yes, pray for the family of a policeman killed in the line of duty, and let others in law enforcement in your own community know you care about them, too. Be truthful. Take action. Intercede for those in media who claim they are praying to truly know the power of prayer and the One to Whom prayer is made.
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 3:16-24
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; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
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.
