LOVE IN ACTION!
“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.”
Luke 10:33-34 (NIV)
Love isn’t a sentiment, a feeling; it’s an action. Perhaps, that’s why stereotypically guys, or those who have been deeply hurt, struggle with the notion of love. Love has been reduced to a sentiment. Love is not a sentiment. It’s an action. Said another way, love causes you to move. If I say I love someone or something, and I never invest in that thing, I don’t love that person or thing; I love the idea of it. Love will cause us to move our feet, spend time and money, wake up early, or stay late. One of the problems with love as a feeling is we don’t always feel like loving, do we? Love is honestly quite inconvenient. One of the reasons the divorce rate is so high is because we reduced the covenant of marriage into a feeling. Our culture has changed the vows death do us part to feelings do us part. Once I no longer feel it, I’m done. This is a cheap form of love. I’m going to say something that may shock you. Jesus didn’t always feel like loving you and me. How could that be? On the cross, I don’t think He felt like dying. He begged His heavenly Father for another way, but Jesus’ love moved Him to action. I’m tired of the cheap version of love the world operates in. I long for a love in me, in you, in the church that loves even when it’s hard.
The verse above says the man took pity but notice what he did after that. It's not enough to feel something if you don’t do anything about it. This man's love cost him comfort, money, time, and not to mention this man was an enemy. Samaritans and Jews couldn’t stand each other, and yet love drove him to action. If you love your family, does it show in your actions? If you love the church, do you serve or give? If you love those in your community, do you help meet their needs? One of the signs of spiritual maturity is that you stop making your feelings a compass for love, and the Bible becomes one. Jesus was moved to action. Let the Spirit speak to you and fill you up, but also be faithful even when you don’t feel it. This is a love that only comes from above!
APPLICATION:
Love is an action, not a feeling.
PRAYER:
Ask the Spirit to reveal how you can practically love those around you. What are ways you can show your spouse, kids, neighbors and church that you love them? Ask God to guide you, then be faithful to act on those things!
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?