The Act of Love
January 19, 2025
Dr. Paul Cannings
A class of little girls was learning to spell. They spelled several small words, such as “pig,” “cat,” “dog,” “cow,” and amused themselves by imitating the sounds that these animals make. Then little Mary was asked to spell “love”. She didn’t stop to give the letters, but ran and threw her arms around the teacher’s neck, and kissed her on the cheek. “We spell ‘love’ that way at our house,” she said. The girls laughed, but the teacher said, “That is a beautiful way, but do you know another way to spell ‘love’?” “Oh, yes,” cried Mary, “I spell love this way,” and she began to put the books in order on her teacher’s desk. “I spell love by helping everybody when they need me.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths Copyright © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)
Love is an act of obedience to God; “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15-16; NIV) It is when we keep His commandments that we experience God’s love; “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.” (John 15:10-11; NIV) God’s Word is His covenanted love for man (1 John 2:3-6).
Two little boys were each given a box of chocolates by their grandfather. The first boy took the package into his bedroom, tore into it, and stuffed the candies into his mouth until he was one big mess of smeared chocolate. Because of his love for his grandfather, the other boy unwrapped his package there in front of his grandfather. He opened the box and looked at all the candies. Then he raised the box to his grandfather and said, “Thank you for giving me this candy. Here, you have the first piece.” (Source: Morgan, Robert J. Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, & Quotes p341)
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Love is an act. Acts of love make the word love, when spoken, substantive. Those around us know what we mean by what we do. It is the same with the Lord.
Loving God is more than singing a song (1 John 3:18) or attending church. It is obeying Him by serving (1 Peter 4:10), by loving others who may not, but someone’s standards, be lovable (Matthew 22:36-40; 5:43-48; the Book of Hosea), and by giving to Him from our very best. “…….Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver…..” (2 Corinthians 9:6-15) This is because a sincere giver obeys God (John 14:15) and therefore experiences His love (John 15:10-11).
Giving is an act of loving appreciation to God, which is why it is an offering (Exodus 35:20-29). Prayerfully, when offered, God accepts it (Haggai 1:2-11). Giving is a matter of the heart.