Title

Don’t Tell Me, Show Me

Scripture
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
(1 John 3:18)
Devotional
I have found that words for the most part are cheap. It is easy to say what one will do or what one believes, it is quite another to put those words into actions. Converting “I will” into “I am” or “I did” is not accomplished with mere words, but in truthful deeds. I have often noticed, for example, that people who repeatedly tell others how much they love them are more than often attempting to convince themselves, because their actions are contrary to their words. The prophet Ezekiel tells us, “With their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.” Many words are the actions of the insecure. However, the actions of the secure are done in deed and in truth. Solomon tells us in the book of Ecclesiastes, “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few.”(1) Don’t tell me what you are going to do, show me.

(1) Ecclesiastes 5:2
Thought For The Night
“Do not waste your time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor act as if you did… When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Evening Text
1 John 3:18: My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Looking for Answers
Evening Study Guide
Defining: “Love”: See 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
 
Referencing: “‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” …Feed My lambs.’ He said to him again a second time,  ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’…  ‘Tend My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ …  ‘Feed My sheep,’” John 21:15-17.
 
Applying: Love on purpose, practice loving others. Give C.S. Lewis’ adage a try, “Do not waste your time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor act as if you did