My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 Joh 3:18)
The Bible reminds us that we must put our love into action. How can we do that? Let’s see what the Bible has to say.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Joh 13:34-35)
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (Joh 14:15)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” (Mt 5:43-47)
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (Col 3:12-14)
All of the Bible passages that I’ve shown above talk about love being shown by actions. The Lord asks us to demonstrate our love by:
- Loving one another;
- Obeying His commandments;
- Loving our enemies; blessing those who curse us; doing good to those who hate us; and praying for them;
- Putting on tender mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; and
- Bearing with one another and forgiving one another.
Love (the bond of perfection) binds all of the qualities of goodness together—which means that love is the source from which all good character traits proceed. Love motivates, sustains, and unites the presence of all good qualities of character.
Essentially, in living this way we demonstrate the concept of putting on Christ.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal 3:27)
The Lord reminded us in His Word that GOD IS LOVE. (1 Joh 4:8) The Lord acts upon His own perfect love for us by constantly surrounding us with His love, grace and blessings.
For more verses about love in action, see: Joh 15:9-10, 13; Rom 5:8; 1 Joh 2:3-6; 3:10-11; 4:7-12; 4:17-20.
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