Love is Proven by Action

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy Of: Austin Kehmeier

“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” ~1 John 4:9

It is not simply enough to say that you love someone. We know that the love we claim to have for others absolutely must be proven by action or else it isn’t love at all.

This is a truth that has been running through my mind for several months now. And it was confirmed for me in the clearest way in a Scripture passage I read recently, the one quoted above.

Interestingly, the same exact concept written by John in today's verse was also taught by Jesus Himself when He said that *if* we love Him, then we will *obey* Him.”

Love is always proven by action. Mere words simply do not suffice.

Jesus commanded that we *love* one another. How would you say we are we doing on that? Are we loving people in word only? Or do they actually feel and see our love in real and tangible ways? Are we saying we love them, when really we are just judging everything they do? Are we saying we love them, when really we are shunning and rejecting them? Are we saying we love them when really we are only speaking truth to them, but failing to back up that truth with hands-and-feet-of-Christ action?

Throughout the Scriptures we read the concept that it is God‘s *kindness* that led to our repentance. If we want to reach the world for Christ, if we want to be an encouragement and edification for our brothers and sisters, we are going to have to love them. Which means that they are going to have to see and feel and know our love. Nothing else will do.