Daily Devotional

Speak It & Show It

by Jim Dunn on September 17, 2022

“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue only, but in deed and in truth.”  1 John 3:18

We need to be absolutely certain that the Holy Spirit is not guiding us to a life where we don’t need to tell others of our love for them. That is not what the Holy Spirit is saying. This is a case of “both and”. Real love, genuine love, Christ-like love is both word and deed. It cannot be one without the other.

God designed us to hear that we are loved, appreciated and invaluable to our family, our employers, our boss, our pastors and our church family. If all we receive or do is serve, others around us, especially family, wonder if they are loved and valued.

In truth, the Holy Spirit is telling us to love in word and in tongue plus in deed and in truth.

Years ago, I had the opportunity to do a funeral for a man, husband, and dad that I did not know. His wife came to my study at church so we could talk about the service. After a few minutes I asked her to tell me about her husband. She said, “He worked and he died.” My response was, can you help me here and tell me what he was like? She said again, “He worked and he died.”

Then she stood up and said, “You tell everyone that he worked and he died.” She left my study, and I was left to tell those that attended his funeral who he was.

Here is the question: How do you want to be remembered by your family, co-workers, neighbors, and even the stranger in the store? Better yet, how does the Holy Spirit want us to live and love one another?

Let us love and encourage one another in word and deed.

Dear Lord, pour into all of us this day Your love that we may speak it and show it all around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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