Most who read this blog will be very familiar with the phrase, “Your actions are speaking so loudly that I cannot hear a word you are saying.” Sometimes the truth is that the actions of person do not always match their speech. Some people make great boasts about different exploits, but they never seem to be seen doing those same exploits. Others say one thing and do another, and their reliability comes into question. John the apostle understood this. He has been sharing with us about loving others, and it is one thing to say that we love others, yet it is quite another when have actions that demonstrate that we do. He says in First John chapter three and verse eighteen:
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Once again we are addressed by John as his little children. As a caring spiritual father, John desires that his kids walk in truth, so today he continues his theme of helping others with our worldly goods by insuring that we are not just talkers about it. He uses the words “let us not”. This has the idea of “not allowing”, “not being willing to entertain”, “not being fond of” what he is about to write. In other words, do not allow yourself to love just with words, neither with tongue. Do not be a person who says one thing about loving others and then doing just the opposite. No, rather, we are to be people who love with our actions. We are to love in deed and in truth.
Loving someone with words only is very near living a lie. Living this way is hypocritical and two faced, and we are not to be this way. There was a time when people could trust one another, and when they said something or vowed something, they would keep their word. The saying was, “My word is my bond.”, and they did everything within their power to keep their word. If there was an unexpected delay or interruption to fulfilling their vow, they let the other party know, and they continued to work on fulfilling their vow until they could do so. Today it seems a bit different, and it's too bad. Words often do not match the actions, and John encourages us to not be this way.
There is a lot to be admired about us when we love with our actions, and today John has challenged us once again to examine ourselves to find out if we are just talkers or doers when it comes to loving others. Let us all with humbled hearts bow before the Lord Jesus and ask Him to reveal whether we are lovers of others or just full of hot air.
Next time we shall discover how to assure our hearts before God, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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