Love in Action

It’s easy to know love when you feel it. Love as an emotion conjures affection, pleasure, enjoyment, or happiness. It’s what most people think of when they hear the word and its usually inward-focused direction. While true, it’s also important to understand the origin and definition of love which is outward-focused.

The Bible defines love as a sacrificial and selfless emotion and action that originates in God and reflects His high esteem and regard for His human children and His will for their well-being. Biblical love is the highest and purest form of love that prompts a person to lay down his life for his friends and to respect God and other people. Biblical love is not based on feelings but on obedience and grace. Biblical love is rooted in action for the good of others and is manifested by reconciliation and relational peace and harmony.

Here is some practical advice from Chapter 12 of the book of Romans to put love into action in our daily lives. This is particularly true for relationships within the family of God but also is especially important for how believers should treat non-believers. Home and government, church and community, each should reflect the behavior model God has shown us.

• Love must be sincere.
• Be devoted to one another in love. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
• Share with people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
• Bless those who persecute you. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”

-Proverbs 25:21-22

• Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
• Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
• If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Being familiar with this advice is one thing. Putting it to work is another. How can we cast out evil? A surgeon cannot remove a malignant tumor if her surgical tools are contaminated. The tools must be sterile and incapable of sowing the seeds of more infection. It must be health that fights disease.

Therefore, to eradicate a vice, we must cultivate a virtue. If there is a bad habit in our lives, the best way to destroy it is to replace it with a good one. To take the mind away from the Evil Wolf, deprive it of thought food. Rather, feed your Good Wolf.

This principle also applies to the faults and vices of others. We must fight them with their opposites. If someone is harsh and cruel to us, we must be considerate and gentle. If they are stingy, we must be generous.

As darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of good. All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men and women to do nothing, to take their light and hide it under a bucket, and to “leave well enough alone.”

Love in action is to overcome evil. God desires that believers live in peace, but He knows we can’t achieve this on our own power. That’s why He gave us a Helper, the Holy Spirit, through whom we can attain unity and be bound together in peace.

Think of the Spirit as your “holy guide” through life. You’re not alone. He is a companion to guide you as you take each uncertain step. All that is necessary is for you to put your hand in His. He will guide you down the path God wants you to take because He is familiar with it. He was sent by God, has the mind of God, and knows the will of God for your life. He is love in action.