“Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”
— 1 John 3:18

Ithink it’s good to tell people that we love them and to do so often. But the Bible tells us in 1 John 3 that our love needs to go deeper than just words. There needs to be some kind of concrete action attached to our proclamations of love, behaviors that have substance to them.

There is a world full of people in need of love, which can make the call to love others seem overwhelming. So I think a great place to start is with those who are closest to us. We can love our families or our friends better. We can ask ourselves what we can do for them.

Now, think about this: When was the last time you did something for somebody just because you wanted to bless that person and not because there was something in it for you? Many times we do things for other people, but we are motivated by the way it will benefit us. That’s not really love. Love is when we do something for somebody else not because there’s something in it for us but simply because we want to bless that person. It’s just that simple.

I believe we will begin to walk in the fullness of God’s power when we really learn how to put other people first, when we really lead lives that are not just about meeting our own needs. We do need to have our own needs met, but the aim must go beyond just receiving for ourselves.

God wants us to be intentional about being a blessing to others. Yes, sometimes loving people with our words is exactly what God is calling us to do—to reach out and tell them how much we appreciate them. But sometimes our love needs to go beyond words and be demonstrated through concrete deeds. Whether by words or physical action, let’s seek to grow in loving others.

Father, I ask You to strengthen me today by the Ruach HaKodesh, by the Holy Spirit. Impart life to me through Your Son by Your Spirit that I would share that love with others. I ask this, Father, in Yeshua’s name.

Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider, Rivers of Revelation (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2020), Used by permission.