“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:18 (NLT)
CHALLENGE
Ask God how you can show His love through your actions. Today, DO something loving for someone.
PREPARATION
- Praise God for who He is
- Confess your sinfulness and need for cleansing
- Allow His Spirit to draw you near
- Listen as He speaks to you
REQUESTS
- What actions can I do for others to share God’s love? What can I do for someone today?
- Remind me of God’s love for all people.
- Challenge me, God, if I haven’t loved as You would. Give me the wisdom, strength and courage to rectify this situation.
THANKSGIVING
- Thank God for hearing you.
- Trust that God is at work to accomplish His will.
OPTIONAL READINGS
- Romans 12:10,13
QUOTATION
“An unshared life is not living. He who shares does not lessen, but greatens, his life .” – Stephen S. Wise
LIFE STORY
I think Westheights is a friendly community. When we starting attending, many people would introduce themselves to us, but names and a few tidbits were generally the extent of the conversation. Sunday’s were a sea of relatively unfamiliar acquaintances. I was becoming confident that this was where God had brought me, but I didn’t know how to move beyond the light Sunday morning chats into becoming ‘part’ of the community.
Then one family made an action that was large gesture of love and belonging for us. It may have seemed simple to them. They invited us for dinner. I was a little surprised as we didn’t know them outside of West-heights. It was a step into the community beyond worship that I was looking for but had not been able to facilitate.
It was the beginning of our new community at Westheights. Someone took the time to think of me, invite my family to their home and get to know me. Their action was God’s love opening the door for me.
Turning love into an action may be as simple as a phone call, or shoveling snow for someone. You don’t know what God is doing in another’s heart, but by thinking about someone and doing something loving for them, may be God meeting their need (and yours!). These actions are how we can represent God.
Contributed by: Cindy Jantzi