1 John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
I tell my wife and children that I love them many times during a day. Before we leave each other in the mornings we say we love one another. When we go different ways we tell each other that we love one another. Before we go to bed each night we tell one another that we love each other. It's something that we started because we want each other to know how we feel. But there are times that we say it because we are disciplined to do so. There are even times when we say it and it feels like it isn't enough, kinda like the words aren't sufficient.
That's what this scripture is teaching us. To say it isn't enough. Love is an action word. Love must be shown in order for people to actually feel it. To tell someone that you love them and not show them would have no more meaning than telling them your middle name and never wanting them to call you by it.
Love requires action. It demands it. Notice what the scripture tells us... Don't love in word. In other words, don't brag on how much you do or will do. Love isn't boastful about itself. Some think by always bringing up what they have done or bought, that their love is something great. Loving people doesn't always have an itinerary or price catalog. Sometimes loving people is just being there. Also look at what the scripture says... Don't love in tongue. How would you feel about love if someone told you they loved you but cheated on you? How would you feel about love if someone told you they loved you but never talked to you again?
The scripture is very clear on these two issues of love. Look at it and add it together.
- Don't love in "WORD", but love in "DEED"
- Don't love in "LIES OF THE TONGUE", but in "TRUTH"
