Last
summer James was constantly telling us he loved us. It was great to hear most
of the time, but it got to be excessive. Maybe he needed to hear it from us
that much! Before my Grandfather passed away last July, he gave us great advice
to try to beat James to the punch, at some point each day. That way we were
initiating the “I love you” and not always saying it in response to his “I love
you.”
I
think James still says “I love you” more than most children, but it isn’t
constant anymore. He’s a genuinely loving and caring boy. So, this year we’ve
talked numerous times about how our actions show our love. If we truly love
God, we will listen and obey. If we truly love our parents, we will listen and
obey.
Jesus
challenged Peter to live out his love in action.
John 21:15-17 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said,
“you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes,
Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because
Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
Saying
“I love you” can be easy, but living a life of love is quite challenging. Peter
did spend the rest of his life living out his love in action (feeding Jesus’s
sheep).
Do
you and I love God as Peter did? What would our all-knowing God say about our
love? If you and I do truly love Him, how has He asked us to show and live out
our love in action? How well are you and I caring for His people?
Alice