More than words…

Imagine being with your significant other and the whole time you’re with them they claim to love you but their actions say otherwise. They don’t want to spend time with you, they cheat on you and they don’t value what you do for them. Wouldn’t you question their love for you? I know for many, when we say we love someone, we go out of our way to show them that we love them and we also expect the same from them because “actions speak louder than words”.

So why do we think it is any different with God? Do we TRULY love God if our lips say one thing but our actions say another. Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will obey/keep My commandments”. Our obedience to God’s Word shows our love for God. When we do what He wants us to do even when it’s opposite to our desires and we don’t feel like doing it, that is love. When we beat our flesh into submission, that’s love. When we repent, that is…[say it with me]…LOVE.

Repentance isn’t an apology. Repentance is the turning away from the sin you were committing and making it a point to not repeat it again. It is merely an apology when we say we are sorry for a particular sin but make no effort to stop. God isn’t looking for our lip service, He’s looking for our actions. 

Sometimes we forget that God is a jealous God, and we need to scrutinize our lives and see if there are other idols taking His place and our attention.

God’s love language is obedience.

“We show our love for God by obeying his commandments, and they are not hard to follow. Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.” 1 John 5:3-5

“By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.” 1 John 2:3-6

Another way we can show God that we love Him is in the way we love others.  

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” 1 John 4:20

 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:34-40

So if I love my brothers and sisters well, I am loving God as well.

A great place to learn about how to love well is 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and Romans 12:9-13

LOVE IS A CHOICE. LOVE IS AN ACTION WORD.

God’s love for us is constant and everlasting. That’s not in question here. But I ask you today, will you choose to love God back? 

Here’s the thing, God really sees our hearts. He knows those who are pure in heart and really want to love Him, and are trying their best to love Him. He also knows those who just say they love Him but really don’t. So ask yourself this question: do I put in more work in my pursuit of romantic relationships than I do with God? If yes, pray Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit in me” and find other verses that declare love for God. (Psalms is a great place to start). If your answer is no, still pray Psalm 51:10 and continue to declare your love for God and continue to choose Him daily. 

We can all study David’s life and learn a thing or two. See, David is called a “man after God’s own heart” but he wasn’t one without sin. It was his response to his sin, his true repentance and his seeking/pursuit of God that makes him so exemplary. 

God is not looking for a perfect child, He’s looking for a faithful child.   

So if after reading this blog, you are convicted and are thinking “dang, I don’t really love the Lord like I thought I did” THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. Repent and seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him. He promised that in Jeremiah 29:13 so it is a YES and AMEN! Praise the Lord! 

So be encouraged by 

1 John 2:1

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

1 John 1:8-9

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Every single day, I will make it a point to proclaim, 

Lord, I choose to love you today. 

I may even go further and ask God, “How can I love and serve You, and others, today?” He might answer me in that moment or He might speak to me throughout the day and show me opportunities to do so. 

Prayer

Lord, may my actions show my love for You. May I be steadfast in my love for You and also be empowered by the grace You shower on me. Thank you for giving me the grace to love you even more (Philippians 2:13). I love You Lord. You are amazing. In Jesus name. Amen.