1 John 3:18 ~ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Our love for God and others has to go beyond just words and superficial actions.  We can’t just say we love God and then continue to act as we did before accepting Christ.  There has to be a process of change.  As Christians who truly love God, we should not just have a desire to please Him, but we must put sincere actions with it.  I must emphasis that our actions must be sincerely motivated, which is why the scripture says, “love…with actions and in truth.”

God is love and through our relationship with us, He expects us to show love to others. That means being obedient when God asks us to be a blessing to someone else. There have been times when I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to do something and I ignored it because it inconvenienced me or would take me out of my comfort zone.  Or, if I did do it, I did it because I wanted the recognition. My motives were not right. The more time I spend with God and studying His word, my spirit is now more quickly convicted when I am disobedient or do things with wrong motives.  Some may use that as an excuse to not drawer closer to God, but I will warn you not to do that.  Just read the story of Jonah, and you will understand why we shouldn’t run from God and what He has instructed us to do.

We are all humans and there will be times when we fail to truly show love, which are no surprise to God.  We can’t condemn ourselves. Instead, each day we should wake up with the prayer, Lord help me to do better today.  We can take rest in the fact that God is with us and will help us overcome whatever weaknesses or struggles we have when we ask Him, in faith, to do so that includes our ability to truly love others. If we set our hearts to truly follow God’s commands, the actions will begin to follow.  God commands us to love Him with all our heart, soul and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.  When we truly love God and one another, selfishness, jealousy, hatred, envy, greed, fear and un-forgiveness cannot survive. That’s the love in action that pleases God and sets our hearts free.

Prayer: Lord, we pray that our actions will reflect the love we confess to have for You.  Shape our hearts, minds and will to be aligned with Your will and purpose for our lives.  Help us to live out our faith daily, trusting You to guide and order our steps, so that Your love will be demonstrated through us.  We trust You to be our strength when we are weak and give You all the honor, glory and praise.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Purpose in Action:

How are your actions reflecting God’s love? What is God asking you to do today to show love and be a blessing to someone else? Have you done it? If so, did you do it with the right motive?

For His Purpose,

LiKeisha