Genuine Love
Anyone can say the words, "I love you." However, just because we say we love another person does not mean that we have genuine love for them. Love is much more than words and emotions. John was inspired by God to give us a way to recognize genuine love. (I John 3:18) We need to be careful to pay attention to his insight from the Lord.
As believers, we are not to love others by what we say only. Our tongue can express love when real love is not present. Genuine love is when we put our words into action, so that we do deeds of love for the other person. In fact, it is when we do what is in truth right for them. In other words, love is a decision that leads to an action. Genuine love is recognized by the truth behind of what we do. We do not just do something for another person, but we do what is best for that person in an unselfish way.
That is what God did, when He gave us His Only-Begotten Son, Jesus. He put His love into action, and He provided eternal salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. That was the greatest act of love ever, because Jesus left the perfection of heaven for sinful earth, and He provided us with what we needed the most. Now, let us all compare our love to the love of God in Jesus Christ. Do we love in deed and in truth or just in word and in tongue? It is up to us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I John 4-5 and II John.
As believers, we are not to love others by what we say only. Our tongue can express love when real love is not present. Genuine love is when we put our words into action, so that we do deeds of love for the other person. In fact, it is when we do what is in truth right for them. In other words, love is a decision that leads to an action. Genuine love is recognized by the truth behind of what we do. We do not just do something for another person, but we do what is best for that person in an unselfish way.
That is what God did, when He gave us His Only-Begotten Son, Jesus. He put His love into action, and He provided eternal salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. That was the greatest act of love ever, because Jesus left the perfection of heaven for sinful earth, and He provided us with what we needed the most. Now, let us all compare our love to the love of God in Jesus Christ. Do we love in deed and in truth or just in word and in tongue? It is up to us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I John 4-5 and II John.