From The Pastor’s Pen – By Brian Horrobin
The word ‘love’ is a term thrown around a lot in our world, but it can mean different things to different people.
In John 13:34-35 Jesus said this: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
What does that kind of love look like?
It was writer Marlon James who once said, “Love isn’t saying, I love you, but calling to say, did you eat?”
I like that.
To me, true love is love in action, not just words.
Consider the apostle John’s instruction in 1 John 3:17-18: “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
There’s a cost to love, isn’t there?
There’s sacrifice involved, and it may be inconvenient to show love to someone in a practical way, but if we are truly to love someone then we need to be willing to pay the price to give them that love.
I was once at a busy intersection in London waiting at a red light.
There was a man on the traffic island holding up a sign asking for money.
I had just come from Subway and had a footlong sub, cut in 2 pieces, sitting on the seat next to me.
I was quite hungry and looking forward to eating the whole sub, reluctant to part with any of it, but the Lord nudged me to show this man love.
I rolled down my window and handed him half of this lunch.
As I drove away I prayed for the man, but I also prayed for myself, that I would be more alert and willing in the future when opportunities to show love should come my way.
Let’s all endeavour to put our love into action.
