How do you love? Do others see your love for them? Do people you don’t know see the love you have for your family and friends?
We all show our love in different ways. When we look at some people, it is blatantly obvious they are loving people. Their actions are an example of an outpouring of love. Sometimes we translate their actions as caring for others—love must be the basis for the caring.
When our love is manifested through actions, it is not only an outward sign of our love, our love is also typically followed by words. Words without actions are often fleeting and empty. We’ve heard this for so long that it has gotten twisted by some.
You see, there are people who will think actions mean buying gifts for others. That is not necessarily a love action. It may be an attempt to buy someone’s affection. It may be an attempt to buy someone’s forgiveness. We need to ask ourselves our motives for buying gifts.
Yet, when we do something for another person, not only on occasion, but consistently and repeatedly, we show our love. We’ve heard the saying—a picture is worth a thousand words—our love actions are the same.
Jesus was our perfect example in demonstrating His love for us by laying down His life. We are not asked to give up our life for each other in a physical death sense. We are asked to give up our life for each other by doing for one another, putting others ahead of ourselves.
Having pity or feeling sorry for someone is not a demonstration of love. It may show your empathy for them. It may cause people to think you care. Yet, it is not an outpouring of love. Our love must go deeper than empathy to follow in Christ’s love.
Sometimes we are called to show our love by simply being there. We may need to do nothing more than sit quietly with someone. It seems simple yet is very difficult to do. Unfortunately, we want to say something when words won’t help.
I pray we all put our love into action. I pray we determine to do something for someone else out of love. I pray each one of us will demonstrate our love through actions each day. Love through action. Do for others. Show your love outwardly. Be an example of love. Speak only when necessary.
1 John 3:16-18 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Marty Pressey 