Love Is: Action

LOVE IS: ACTION (A VERB): We all know the famous bible verse 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

I chose “Action” first because more than just a feeling or emotion, Paul writes less about what love is and more about what love does. Love isn't a feeling it’s a commitment to each other and to God. This is why God does not command you to have deep feelings of affections for people - he commands you to LOVE people (to take action, to be selfless).

Love as a “feeling” is selfish at its root because it’s something that happens to you, an emotion. This isn’t bad but it also isn’t lasting. They make you feel good today but what happens when they make you feel bad tomorrow? Love as a verb is something you do, an action. Love is self-giving as Jesus displayed on the cross. THIS IS A LASTING LOVE. Love is SO much more than our feelings.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Actions speak louder than words?” People say this because it’s easy to say words…anyone can talk the talk. It’s easy to tell someone you love them, but it’s not easy to sacrifice. It’s not easy to lay our flesh down & be self-less, so when we do that our actions are speaking louder than our words. Our ACTIONS prove our love.

The words used in 1 Corinthians 13 to describe love are active verbs. Patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, trust, hope, and perseverance. Love, is the greatest outward testimony of an inward transformation. Paul writes that Love must be at the root of everything Christians do and evident in their ACTIONS.