1 John 3:18 (NIV) Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 (NLT) Dear children, lets not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18 (GW) Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words. 1 John 3:18 (TEV) My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action. INTRODUCTION A Constant Inner Impulse. The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within. It is the atmosphere of this love surrounding the soul of the believer that makes him a savor of life unto life and enables God to bless his work. AA551 [Remnant SB] COMMENTARY PEARL The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within. It is the atmosphere of this love surrounding the soul of the believer that makes him a savor of life unto life and enables God to bless his work. Supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another - this is the best gift that our heavenly Father can bestow. This love is not an impulse, but a divine principle, a permanent power. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. Only in the heart where Jesus reigns is it found. We love Him, because He first loved us. In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the ruling principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, and ennobles the affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around. AA551 COMMENTARY The true test of Christian character is actions, not words. That's true in any area of life; what we do speaks louder than what we say. And that's why the apostle John isn't content for God's people to love only in words. Love shows itself in actions: meeting people's needs, showing concern and making sacrifices. One of the most significant charges Jesus made against the religious leaders who opposed him was that their lives didn't line up with their words. They were hypocrites. God means for us to be consistent - for our minds and hearts and actions to line up with the truth we profess. Our love for others is not only to be heard but also to be seen. [NIV Once A Day Bible] ILLUSTRATIONS If You're Seeking Joy Patty was the picture of unselfishness. It's impossible to imagine how many kids she hugged, diapers she changed, children she taught, and hearts she encouraged. Three months earlier a brain condition had left her unable to speak, partially paralyzed, and living in a rehabilitation center. Her spirits sank so low she did not want to eat and had trouble sleeping. One evening her daughter had an idea. She placed her mother in a wheelchair and rolled her from room to room, looking for people who needed encouragement. It didn't take long. Though unable to speak, Patty could touch and pray. So she did both. She patted other patients and then placed her hand on their hearts and bowed her head. For the better part of the evening, she touched and prayed her way through the rehab center. That night her appetite returned, and she slept peacefully. The words of Jesus are spot-on: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35 NKJV). Because when you do, it has a boomerang effect. [You Can Count On God by Max Lucado] Dry Sponges One way to think about the recovery process is to imagine what water does to a dry sponge. We come into the process dried up and thirsting for life. We've tried other things, but so far nothing has helped. We have come to the realization that no one but our Creator is going to be able to provide what we so desperately need. In the same way a dry sponge soaks up all the water it is exposed to, the Celebrate Recovery process allows us to soak up God's peace, love, grace, and forgiveness. Oh, how good that feels when our dry spirits soak up all that life-giving water! Eventually, though, we reach our saturation point. We can't hold any more until we allow ourselves to be wrung out on those around us through our service. Then we can soak up more. This is a healthy process, because - as we all know - a waterlogged sponge left on the counter for a few days will begin to stink. The old saying "You can't keep it unless you give it away" is right. This is why service is so important. If we come into the process, soak up God's goodness, then fail to give back, we'll soon be like that waterlogged sponge: we become rancid and begin to smell. God's way is to fill us, wring us out, and fill us again. Holy Father, I love to feel your life-giving Spirit flowing within me. Remind me to stay fresh and healthy by sharing with others what you've given to me. In Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John & Johnny Baker] Character And Faith My parents had a profound impact on me. My mother's kind and gentle character and concern for the spiritual welfare of others are reaping fruit still today. I recall also with deep gratitude my father's example of honesty, integrity, discipline, and hard work. Over the years countless others have influenced me and changed me by the examples of their lives - although I am sure they were unaware of it. The same has probably been true of people in your life. The greatest legacy you can pass on is the legacy of your character and your faith. If our character is bad, marked by lack of integrity or any other negative quality, this is how we will be remembered. But if our character and integrity have been shaped by Christ over the years, others can't help but see this and remember it. Why is faith our greatest legacy? Because the memory of what we were like - not just our personalities but our character and our faith - has the potential to influence others for Christ. How do you want to be remembered? What kind of legacy are you leaving? [Peace for Each Day by Billy Graham] CLOSING THOUGHT Love Is an Action Love is more than attraction and more than arousal. Its also more than sentimentality, like so many pop songs suggest. By this standard, is love dead when the emotion is gone? No, not at all. Because love is an action; love is a behavior. Over and over again in the Bible, God commands us to love each other. And you cant command an emotion. If I told you, Be sad! you couldnt be sad on cue. Just like an actor, you can fake it, but youre not wired for your emotions to change on command. You know that truth if youve ever told a little kid, Be happy! Im trying, daddy! If love were just an emotion, God couldnt command it. But love is something you do. Yes, it can produce emotion, but love is an action. The Bible says, Let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions (1 John 3:18 NLT). We can talk a good act: I love people. But do we really love them? Do you really love them? Our love is revealed in how we act toward them. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] Verses 17, 18 give an example of how to give up our life for others - to help those in need. This is strikingly similar to James's teaching (James 2:14-17). How clearly do your actions say you really love others? Are you as generous as you should be with your money, possessions, and time? [Life Application SB] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY James 2:17 - Faith and Works. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20161216-2029.html Acts 20:35 - It Is More Blessed To Give Than To Receive. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230107-0909.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/