"Love ... with Action ... and in Truth"

I was at work today when, out of the blue, a verse that i read this morning somehow re-surfaced to my mind. The verse? 1 John 3: 18 - "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with action and in truth." And with it, i began meditating, pondering, and devouring (well, sort of!) it ...

Indeed, this has been one area i have been asking God to help me grow more in - that is, my love for others. It has been my constant heartcry that i may grow much more in my heart and love for people. And i was duly challenged as i meditated over this verse.

If one wonders where the cliche, "Action speaks louder than words", comes from, one need not look further than this verse - i think!!! :) Indeed, it's so true ... love demands action (we are not just to love with words ... but we are to love with action too!) ... and as i thought about God, i can only thank Him that He loved not just with His words - but with action as well - the very act of sending His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross as a propitiation for our sins. "For God so loved the world that He gave ..." God's love translated itself into action ... and by so-doing, He satisfied His wrath - and justice - and purchased for us eternal life and a restored relationship with Himself. Thank God for His amazing love and grace!!! :)

So, well, God reminded me that it is not enough for us to have good intentions ... for having good intentions is one thing - translating them into action is another altogether!!! And boy, do i know it well!!! For sometimes, we (or at least myself) may have good intentions, but how many times have we failed to translate them into action? For me, quite countless, i think. :P

The verse goes on to say that we are to love "with action and in truth". Was pondering over this for a while ... and then marvelled at the supreme wisdom of God in making this plain in His inspired Scriptures. I could clearly see why God did not just say love "with action", but also tagged the words " ... and in truth" behind it as well - for it is of vital importance that our loving action be coupled with truth - for one can love with action (that is, outwardly, superficially), but yet not sincerely / genuinely (in truth). And herein lies the great challenge - to love "in truth" - with full sincerity of heart and genuineness - and not even a hint of pretense or hypocrisy.

My heartfelt prayer is that God would grant me His heart - that i may love others with the perfect love of His (or at least close to that!). I know i have much to grow in this aspect ... but i strongly believe God is working in me and through me ... and that by His grace, i will grow more in my pastoral heart for people more and more in the days to come. Amen!!! :)