October 30, 2025 

1 John 3:16–18 – This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Devotional: John doesn’t leave us guessing about what love looks like. He points straight to the cross. Love that acts is not a feeling—it’s a decision that costs something. “This is how we know what love is,” John writes, “Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.” That single sentence defines the very heart of discipleship. Love, according to John, isn’t sentimental or selective; it’s self-giving.

We live in a world that celebrates comfort and convenience, but real love rarely fits into either. To love as Jesus loved means stepping into messes we didn’t make, bearing burdens that aren’t ours, and giving without expecting anything back. It means choosing people over pride, compassion over convenience, and faithfulness over fear.

Words are easy. Promises are easy. But love that acts requires courage. It’s the kind of love that rolls up its sleeves. John challenges the church not to settle for lip service: “Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” The difference between talking about love and living it out is the difference between hearing a sermon and becoming one.

Jesus’ love was never abstract—it had hands that healed, feet that walked dusty roads, and eyes that saw the overlooked. If we are His disciples, our love should look the same. Outreach isn’t a church program; it’s the daily practice of showing up for others. Every act of mercy becomes a small reflection of the cross.

Sometimes we convince ourselves that love must be grand to be genuine, but most of the time it’s quiet—a meal cooked, a ride given, a prayer whispered, a letter written. These small acts become living sermons that preach louder than words ever could. Every time you choose to love, you participate in the same story that began at Calvary.

So, what does love that acts look like for you today? Whatever it is, don’t just feel it. Live it.

Action: Do one intentional act of love today—something that costs you time, energy, or comfort. Let it be your silent sermon of grace.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for showing me what real love looks like. Help me move from words to action, from good intentions to faithful obedience. Give me eyes to see where I can serve and courage to love when it’s inconvenient. May my life reflect the truth of Your love every day. In Your name I pray, Amen.

Thought for the Day: Love proves itself not in what we say but in what we do.