I would almost go so far as to say that to claim love for somebody without an active demonstration or outward manifestation of that love...is to live in hypocrisy.
Not one scripture refers to love as an abstract concept or as an emotion, attitude or decision that is divorced in any way from action. The bible never speaks of a love that is not intimately linked with its demonstration.
On the contrary. Biblical love is, by scriptural definition DEFINED by action, attitude of the heart and words as an accompaniment to that. Love IS...kind, patient, not envious, not self seeking... it is outlined by Paul as proactive and justified not by words but by action and reaction towards others.
Jesus walked incarnationally AS LOVE. He did not simply make a statement and then keep His distance, preferring instead to be in the midst of those He had compassion for. We rarely hear Him speak the words of His love and never without an accompanying demonstration, more commonly it is known by demonstration. It was out of His love that He moved, healed, spoke, made statements and commitments.
The fruit of our mouths come with responsibility.
What I am realising even as I sit here, is that when I make a statement to a person, however radical, it then becomes my responsibility to demonstrate and walk that word. If we state love for somebody, we are speaking a commitment, our yes being yes and our no being no, the words we speak of love carry a responsibility. Our words will be justified and our faithfulness tested not by the eloquence or even the sincerity of those words, rather by the active demonstration if the love they spoke of.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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."
Not one scripture refers to love as an abstract concept or as an emotion, attitude or decision that is divorced in any way from action. The bible never speaks of a love that is not intimately linked with its demonstration.
On the contrary. Biblical love is, by scriptural definition DEFINED by action, attitude of the heart and words as an accompaniment to that. Love IS...kind, patient, not envious, not self seeking... it is outlined by Paul as proactive and justified not by words but by action and reaction towards others.
Jesus walked incarnationally AS LOVE. He did not simply make a statement and then keep His distance, preferring instead to be in the midst of those He had compassion for. We rarely hear Him speak the words of His love and never without an accompanying demonstration, more commonly it is known by demonstration. It was out of His love that He moved, healed, spoke, made statements and commitments.
The fruit of our mouths come with responsibility.
What I am realising even as I sit here, is that when I make a statement to a person, however radical, it then becomes my responsibility to demonstrate and walk that word. If we state love for somebody, we are speaking a commitment, our yes being yes and our no being no, the words we speak of love carry a responsibility. Our words will be justified and our faithfulness tested not by the eloquence or even the sincerity of those words, rather by the active demonstration if the love they spoke of.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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."
posted by Claire at 10:21 PM
5 Comments:
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great post Ü
I know we already talked about this, but I'll repost my comments here.
I said that it's easy to tell someone you love him/her, but when the situation calls for you to go out of your comfort zone and risk something on your part, LOVE would be the only reason and motivation you'll do so.
you have no idea how timely this is for me too Ü
permission to blog about this Ü
have you noticed how much of a fan I am? LOL.
permission granted silly bean ;)
So very true. As Bill Johnson says, "we owe people an encounter with God". It has to be more than words, actions must follow. Jesus said that He only did what He saw His Father doing, and He only said what He heard his father say. So He knew the father's heart and He knew how to express it. We must spend time with God so that we can fill up to pour out His love to others.
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