Love - An Action Word

Most people think of February in terms of Valentine's Day.  In your mind you may have thoughts of hearts, arrows, chocolates, or feelings of warmth and happiness.  However, one concept that stands head and shoulders above all others when it comes to February is love.  I’m not talking about those “fuzzy” feelings that we receive when we think of a family member or a friend.  I’m talking about love which is exhibited in action.  What is easier for you to do – to say to someone, “I love you” or, to take out the garbage?  Of course, it is easier to verbalize love.  We like to hear someone tell us that they love us because that makes us feel good.  But far more gratifying to us is to see someone show us love by going out of their way to do something for us.  That is because love is an action word.

Remember that often quoted Bible verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  How did God love us?  By telling us He loves us?  No.  By showing us that He loves us.  Notice the action word “gave” that is underlined in the verse above.  God loved us so much that He expressed His love through concrete action.  This thought is simply expressed in this verse: “This is love: not that we loved god, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (I John 4:10).  But that's not all there is.  The writer goes one step further to explain to us that we should use the example that God gave as a pattern for how we deal with others.  He says, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (I John 4:11).  Let’s make the entire month of February a month to show love to others – through our actions.  Here are two things you can do.  (1)    First, thank God for the love gift that He gave you in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Pray to God with a thankful heart for that wonderful love gift.  As you pray, mention at least six blessings you enjoy because of God’s love gift to you – forgiveness of sins, a wonderful thoughtful family, health, friends, or something else.  (2)    Second, utilize that pattern of love as an action word with one family member and one friend.  What can you do for them this month?  Give them a bouquet of flowers as an expression of thanks, or something else.  May God bless you as you make love an action – not just a feeling.