Love is an Action
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Love can be understood as a mix of emotions, behaviors, and beliefs associated with strong feelings of affection, protectiveness, warmth, and respect for another person. Love is widely proclaimed by people from one to another, yet their actions afterwards says otherwise.
Scripturally God himself is love, and by this, he gave his only begotten Son to die for mankind... John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This was the extreme of God's love for us. And as much as we accept the love given to us, we also much extend its hand towards one another.
But sadly, in the world today, love has been misunderstood, the love we claim we exhibit is only a confession of the mouth which harbor deceit in the heart.
But God is teaching us that love is an action, it does not only end with the mouth confession, it is an action that works out our emotional feelings and thoughts.
Love is expressly defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love suffers long and is kind;
Love patiently endures the weaknesses of others, it is not quick to discard a relationship simply because of a disagreement. It does not portray a harsh attitude against another either brother or spouse. Through kindness, love actively works towards the benefit of all those with whom it comes into contact with.
Love does not envy;
Love is not jealous over the accomplishment of others, it does not seek for the possessions of others. It will instead build up and not tear down, it will celebrate and not gossip.
Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
Love does not push itself forward in order to be recognized, but willing to humbly work in the background of the crowd in order to exalt others. Love does not work in a bid to draw attention to itself.
Love is not prideful or arrogant and thus, does not insist on having its own way or consider itself better than others. It does not exult itself above others.
Love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; it does not behave in a manner that manifests little consideration for others. It does not ignore the person of others for the sake of exalting itself.
Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
Love does not take pleasure in finding sin or failure in the life of others, it does not rejoice when others sins or makes a mistake,. Love seeks the truth and not evil.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. When things become difficult, love does not seize to work, love believes and seeks the good in all situations. Love believes all things works together for the good of believers. Love believes the best is yet to come.
A person that truly loves must exhibit the above actions of love without any reservation.
Above all, God is love
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
If we truly claim to love, then God must be expressly seen in us, the character of Christ must be rooted in us and the fruit of the spirit must spring forth.
We can't claim to love and find it difficult to live peaceably with others.
Love is an action, just as God love through action in giving His son to us, so also we must love one another sacrificially as we live daily.
Let your claim of love be seen in action and not in your verbal expression.
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of today in Jesus Christ name
2. Lord, forgive me for not loving as you please in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, help me love with action and not just confessing with my mouth in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.