Have you ever had someone you love deeply say to you: “I love you”? Your first reaction is pure joy and you will most likely reply: “I love you too”. Does it end there or do you show that love in ways other than words. Although love is an emotion, it is also an action. What one chooses to do with these powerful words is much more important than the words themselves.
Recently in Sunday school, Charlie Jones made the comment that love is not only an emotion, but also an action. His statement intrigued me because often I have heard the words I love you from a friend or family member and they were just that—–WORDS.
When we look at God’s word, we find that the word love is used many times throughout the scriptures, but none more than the Gospel of John. John, the disciple who Jesus loved, uses the word 57 times in his Gospel and each time he backs up the word with an action. The most renowned verse in The Bible is John 3:16:
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“
God loves you and His action of giving His Son is the ultimate action. God also loves His Son, Jesus Christ who loves you too. John 15: 12 states:
“As the Father, loved me, I also loved you; abide in my love.”
Jesus speaks of love many times and He tells us what we must do. John 15:12 states:
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.“
Jesus suffered and died for us because He loved us and He asks us to love one another. Jesus did not mean for us to simply say the words, but to put the words into action. Each time Jesus asked Peter: “Do you love Me?” and Peter replied “Yes” He gave Peter an action to show his love. John 21:15-17:
Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him,
15 “Feed My sheep”
16 “Tend My Sheep”
17 “Feed My sheep”
Like Peter, Jesus tells us that we should backup our word with an action. There are many ways to show our love for one another: a smile, a hug, a phone call or a card. The best thing we can do for one another is to pray for each other. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Galatians 6:2 tell us:
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.“
To love one another we must first know God’s love and the love of Jesus who taught us how to love. No love is complete without the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.