Love Verse, Week 1: 1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
As I begin walking through the fruits of the Spirit, I start with "love". I am going to delve into what the Bible says about love for the month of January, starting week 1 with 1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Love means, according to Dictionairy.com, “a profoundly tender passionate affection”. This can be summarized in deep feeling, softness, caring. To “love” in word or talk is to speak words of affection, speak passionately, speak profound thoughts. It is verbal, written, and even thought. In my eyes, it is only half of love. Not quite the real thing.
The “love” of the Bible requires action and follow through. You don’t tell someone you love them and then neglect them. You don’t speak praises of someone, then do something to cause them harm. To love in deed and in truth is to follow through on your words, your thoughts. It is to extend that helping hand, to live up to your word. It is to speak a plan and actually live it.
This week, I spoke that I would do a year long Bible study on the verse in Galations. I spoke this out of LOVE and obedience to God, to study His word and to grow closer to Him. I pray that I also learn from my week 1 verse, and that I do not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. That I not only speak my intentions, but that I follow through.