A time to love….. Ecclesiastes 3:8a

My little granddaughter Jo says the sweetest things. One day she and I spent some one-on-one time. She said, “Nana, me just love this time with you.”  Of course, her sweet words tugged at my heart. Furthermore, I show my love to her with comments of affirmation, prayer, hugs, and cooking her favorite meals. 

How do we know that God loves us? He showed us by His actions. Notably, God sent Jesus to earth to willingly lay down his life for us on the cross. Throughout his word, God tells us He loves us, but he also manifested His love for all the world to see. I am overjoyed that He chose to express His love, deal with me, and save my soul. 

Telling others that we love them is important, however, there is more. Expressing love requires action. For example, if my neighbor needs clothes and I have an overpacked closet, it will take action to pick out clothes, pack them up and take them to her. Furthermore, If I have a friend struggling in her marriage, I might need to listen to her, love her, and pray for her, which takes time. Most important, praying for, witnessing too, and visiting people who do not know Jesus takes action. Sometimes saying “I love you” is better spoken by a deed.

As scripture tells us false prophets shall rise, and deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold (Matthew 24:11 and 12). Sickness, death, financial struggles, hate, and confusion are consuming many. Because of this, we need to share Jesus’s love in the midst of this troubled world. Undoubtedly, it is time to show our love to others.

Clearly, God commands us to love one another because He has loved us (paraphrase John 13:34). 

WORDS OF TRUTH 

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth that love of God in him? 

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. I John 3:16-18