Our culture is used to thinking in love as a feeling. When you think of your love towards someone you probably think of how you feel about them, right?
Photo credit: ©iStockphoto/TommL
However, if you look for verses that talk about love in the Bible, you will see that most authors associate love with actions that showcase that love. In other words, what is the point of a feeling if there is no external evidence of it?
One of the most known verses of the Bible is a perfect illustration that love brings an action:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)
God loved us = He gave his only Son to die for us. By the action, you can see how amazing that love is.
Check the recommendation that the apostle Paul also gives us about love:
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1,2)
He says “walk in the way of love”. Walk indicates an action, not just a feeling. Not only that, He says that Christ is our role model, our example, when it comes to loving.
Check what Paul says about the people who talks about love but doesn’t show evidence of their love:
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. (1 Timothy 1:5-7)
The ones who don’t show evidence of their love don’t know what they are talking about when they talk about love.
John, who is known as the apostle of love, is very objective about it:
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
Actions and truth = We have to show love with our actions, and mean it. It is not about pleasing people, or doing what we think we are obligated to do. It is doing it because God wants us to.
It doesn’t mean that you won’t use words. It means that you will not use only words. Your actions will speak much louder than your words, so they need to be in sync.
If you have tried but you can’t force yourself into feeling love for other people, like Jesus asked us to, don’t worry. Jesus doesn’t want you to force yourself to feel something you don’t. He wants you to act as if you loved. And the amazing thing is that when you start acting with love, you will end up feeling it too.
Great thought sister. Faith, hope & love – love is the greatest! And nice blog look, I like the header. For related posts try nrelate plugin unless u r intentionally keeping it simple. God bless.
Shyju, thank you for your feedback. I am currently testing a few other related posts in my test site, I will definetely check nrelate out, thank you for the recommendation, I appreciate it!
God bless you too!
Yes, Love. And love is an unusual focus in our present culture. REAL love. It’s always good to have those reminders poured into our minds and hearts. Thanks.
Thank you, Joanne!
Hi Cris,
I came across your blog via tentblogger and was intrigued on your comment about overhauling your site. Therefore, I decided to check it out. As a Christian who by God’s grace is a pastor, I was encouraged to read your view on God’s love. Action is truly the focal point. Thanks for bringing about that lesson. Great site by the way!
Jonathan
http://www.ConsiderUp.com
Jonathan, thank you so much for visiting and taking the time to leave these kind words, it’s quite an encouragement for me, I appreciate it!
Blessings!
I could not agree more, Cris. As I work with student leaders, I am always encouraging them to see that Love is a choice, not the inevitable result of a circumstance. The more this choice becomes central to who we are, the more it will appear to be a reflex.
Excellent way to put it, Noah.
Thanks for your visit and your comment, I appreciate them.