March 17


The Proof


He loved them all the way to the end.

John 13:1c (NCV)


This is the teaching you have heard from the beginning. We must love each other.

I John 3:11 (NCV)


Dennis Rainey from Family Life Ministries has a saying that keeps coming back to me. It’s this simple three-word statement:

Love is action!

That’s it. Simple. Bottom line: if you love someone, you show it. I mean words are great, but we understand this just as James did, because love is a lot like faith, and love acts in faith. James tells us, “Abraham’s faith and the things he did worked together.” (James 2:22 NCV)

While James was concentrating on faith, Jesus focused on both faith and love. In fact, He was the supreme example of love. He loved by action: in love, He spoke profound truth; in love, He worked incredible miracles to the low and needy; and in love, He served. With His active love, He stripped Himself down, humbly kneeled and carefully washed the filth off His proud disciples’ feet (John 13). Love in action. And He did it the night before the cross. Later that night He begged God to watch over and protect His followers—these disciples … and us! Love in action.

On the cross and even before, He went through pain for me and for you, we’ll never know. Again, love in action.

He loved like no one else ever has. He showed love. He took action.

Love is action!

What better thing can you and I do than to follow His great example? The time to act is now. The time to love is ... right now!


Father, You know my slowness, my selfishness ... remind me of Jesus. Please. Help me to love like Jesus, my Lord. Amen.