Love Is Something You Do

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES 40 Days of Love

Love Is Something You Do By Rick Warren — Jul 26, 2015 “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” (1 John 3:18 NLT, second edition) If you really love someone, then you show it by how you act toward that person. Love is more than attraction and more than arousal. It’s also more than sentimentality, like so many of today’s songs suggest. By this standard, is love dead when the emotion is gone? No — not at all — because love is an action and a behavior. Over and over again in the Bible, God commands us to love each other, and you can’t command an emotion. If I told you right now, “Be sad!” you couldn’t be sad on cue. Just like an actor, you can fake it, but you’re not wired for your emotions to change on command. If love were just an emotion, then God couldn’t command it. But love is something you do. It can produce emotion, but love is an action.  The Bible says, “Let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions” (1 John 3:18 NLT, second edition). We can talk a good act: “I love people.” But do we really love them? Our love is revealed in how we act toward them. Talk It Over How will you reveal to others that you love them? Think about your family, and be specific. How can you show your love to each person in your family? You may understand that God loves you. How has he shown you how much he loves you? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FInBsbSCnWk In what ways can the Church step up and show our love through action? What about your church? What about your small group? Today’s Scripture “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7, NIV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Ask A lot of times, it’s easy to think that we’re not supposed to ask for too much, but the Scripture encourages us to go to God with all of our needs. He longs to give you the desires of your heart and pour out His favor and blessing on you. In fact, Jesus said, “You have not because you ask not.” Step out in faith and ask for God’s favor, blessing and increase. Begin your prayers by surrendering every thought and attitude to the Father. Ask Him to purify your motives and show you if there is any unforgiveness in your life that would block your prayers. Remember, He desires good things for you, and you can trust Him. Step out and ask and watch what He will do! A Prayer for Today “Father, I humbly come to You and surrender all that I am. I ask that You pour out Your favor and blessing on me. Show me Your goodness and love and position me to be a greater blessing to others in Jesus’ name. Amen.”