Have you ever found yourself saying, “I’ll pray for you”—and then moving on with your day, never actually following through? I know I have. It’s easy to speak about love, to acknowledge its importance, and even to believe we are loving people. But the real question is: Are we living it out? Love, in its truest form, requires action. Jesus never simply spoke about love; He demonstrated it in everything He did.
Love That Moves
The Bible is filled with reminders that love is more than words. One of the most striking examples is the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). A man is beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the side of the road. A priest walks by. A Levite walks by. Both see the suffering but choose not to get involved. Then comes the Samaritan—someone culturally expected to ignore the wounded man. Yet, he stops. He binds the wounds, carries him to safety, and ensures his care. That’s love in action.
Jesus concludes the parable with a clear command: “Go and do likewise.” He doesn’t say, “Think about how kind that was” or “Make sure to talk about love in your next sermon.” He says, “Do.” Love requires movement, sacrifice, and intentionality.
What Does Love Look Like in Everyday Life?
Sometimes, loving others means stepping into uncomfortable spaces. It could be delivering a meal to a neighbor going through a tough time, sitting with someone who feels alone, or simply listening without judgment. Love looks like volunteering at a local shelter, mentoring a struggling student, or choosing patience in a frustrating situation. It means showing up when it would be easier to walk away.
1 John 3:18 reminds us, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Love isn’t passive; it’s an ongoing decision to reflect Christ in the way we treat others.
Faith Without Action is Dead
James 2:14-17 says it plainly: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
This passage isn’t meant to be discouraging; it’s a call to live out what we claim to believe. It’s a reminder that faith should be evident in our actions. We don’t love people because we want to be seen as good Christians; we love because Jesus first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Love Transforms
Something incredible happens when we commit to living out love: It transforms us. When we serve others, our hearts shift. Our priorities realign. We become more like Christ. Love in action isn’t just for the benefit of those we serve—it shapes us, deepens our faith, and draws us closer to God.
So, here’s my challenge to you: Look around. Who needs your love today? Who is struggling in your community? How can you not only pray for them but actively meet a need? Let’s move beyond good intentions and step into the kind of love Jesus calls us to—a love that moves, heals, and transforms.
Because love isn’t just something we say. It’s something we do.
