September 1st, 2023
Friday, August 25
Show the Truth by our Actions
“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other;
let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth,
so we will be confident when we stand before God.” – 1 John 3:16-19 NLT
This passage really disproves the old adage “It’s the thought that counts,” doesn’t it? It states that our actions speak the truth about the intentions that reside in our hearts. That the intensity, sincerity and focus of our love is measurable by what we do.
It reminds me of how Jesus exemplified this in his interactions with a man plagued by leprosy. In the first chapter of the book of Mark, a leprous man comes and bows before Jesus begging him for healing. Jesus not only meets his physical need in a miraculous healing, but he also reaches out and touches the man.
In that timeframe and culture, leprosy was a devastating disease transmitted through proximity, so lepers were considered highly untouchable. The poor man had probably lost relationships, financial security, and access to community. He was isolated and cast aside. Jesus understood this. He knew that there was more to his needs than just the disease, and he also ministered to his emotional needs.
We are called to love like Christ. Sometimes (or probably often) loving our brother or sister is going to be time consuming. We will have to dedicate time to not just seeing the obvious pain in their life but also the hidden pain. It won’t be a quick resolution but a slow process of getting to know them and how we can best meet their needs.
Does that mean that sometimes it will be inconvenient… that we’re going to have to cancel our fun plans to be able to have time to minister to others? Probably. Upon further reflection though, it doesn’t seem too bad. It’s a trivial rendering of “we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters”.
Would you join me in meditating on this passage today and asking Holy Spirit to help us apply it in our own lives?
Show the Truth by our Actions
“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other;
let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth,
so we will be confident when we stand before God.” – 1 John 3:16-19 NLT
This passage really disproves the old adage “It’s the thought that counts,” doesn’t it? It states that our actions speak the truth about the intentions that reside in our hearts. That the intensity, sincerity and focus of our love is measurable by what we do.
It reminds me of how Jesus exemplified this in his interactions with a man plagued by leprosy. In the first chapter of the book of Mark, a leprous man comes and bows before Jesus begging him for healing. Jesus not only meets his physical need in a miraculous healing, but he also reaches out and touches the man.
In that timeframe and culture, leprosy was a devastating disease transmitted through proximity, so lepers were considered highly untouchable. The poor man had probably lost relationships, financial security, and access to community. He was isolated and cast aside. Jesus understood this. He knew that there was more to his needs than just the disease, and he also ministered to his emotional needs.
We are called to love like Christ. Sometimes (or probably often) loving our brother or sister is going to be time consuming. We will have to dedicate time to not just seeing the obvious pain in their life but also the hidden pain. It won’t be a quick resolution but a slow process of getting to know them and how we can best meet their needs.
Does that mean that sometimes it will be inconvenient… that we’re going to have to cancel our fun plans to be able to have time to minister to others? Probably. Upon further reflection though, it doesn’t seem too bad. It’s a trivial rendering of “we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters”.
Would you join me in meditating on this passage today and asking Holy Spirit to help us apply it in our own lives?
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