Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18
Love Makes Sense
Daily Devotion – May 1, 2024
Devotion based on 1 John 3:18
See series: Devotions
Writing a good sentence is an art form. You can master that art by developing an awareness of what makes a sentence work. To be sure, there are nuances to sentence structure that may take a lifetime to master, but there are also some essential elements to every English sentence that even a toddler must master. One element that must be included in every sentence is the verb. The verb denotes action, occurrence, or existence. It is the verb that brings order and structure to what would otherwise be a collection of random and chaotic vocables. Without the verb, a sentence does not make sense and has no meaning. Even in simple sentences, the verb plays a crucial role. “See Jane.” “See Jane run.” “Run, Jane, run!” Without the verb, we wouldn’t know what to do with Jane.
A sentence doesn’t make sense without a verb, and a Christian doesn’t either. Actions are essential in the life of a Christian. You can tell someone you love them every single day, but if you never show it, your words make no sense and have no meaning. Like a sentence that doesn’t have a verb, the words “I love you,” when not connected to an action, are only a collection of random and chaotic vocables. Without action, love is senseless sentimentality and a meaningless emotion.
If you want your love to make sense and have meaning, do what Jesus has already done. Jesus loved you not so that you would be simply lovable but so that you would be loving. Jesus loved you so that you would be a person of action; be a person who is engaged in works of service and is willing to make personal sacrifices.
Words are appropriate for making promises and commitments of love. But it is an action that brings meaning to those words. So, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, a sentence doesn’t make any sense without a verb, and a Christian doesn’t either. Keep me from meaningless lip service. Make me instead a person of action so that my love has meaning. Amen.
