Love....Its Not Mere Lip Service

A well known actor was asked at a special Christian gathering to recite the 23rd Psalm. So, with great drama and flair, he mounted the stage and artfully articulated the vivid imagery of this familiar piece of Scripture. The people were entertained and in awe of his ability to articulate each word and to sprinkle just the right amount of inflection in key spots throughout the Psalm. Later in the same program, an elderly, respected woman of the community was asked to make some kind of contribution to the evening. She rose to the stage and apologized to the people because she could think of nothing else to share but a piece of Scripture she knew best; and you guessed it - the 23rd Psalm. Her voice cracked as she started, “The Lord is my shepherd.” She stumbled over her words, and the people had to strain to hear her low, monotone voice. Yet, there was a very real passion and sense of faith that resignated from her heart. She spoke the psalm as if it were something deeply internalized within her soul. Every monotne word was spoken in genuine affection for her love and gratitude to God. When she finished, there was not a dry eye in the house. The great actor climbed onto the stage and hugged the old woman and explained the difference. “I know the psalm,” he said, “but she lives the psalm.”

Believing what we live, and living what we believe. How many times have we looked at our spouse or someone else we are close to and apologized for failing to live up to a promise? Again! And how many times has that person(s) looked us in the eye and told us to save our apologies because ‘actions speak louder than words?’ I don’t know about other folks but when I find myself in this position I always feel spiritually rotten inside. I feel as if I dropped the ball by failing to follow through with my commitments. Or perhaps, and even more concerning, maybe there is no commitment or conviction in my words.

Actions do speak louder than words. We can make many claims in our lives; we can make promises galore; we can have the best intentions in the world, but unless we follow through with those deeds (no matter how admirable our sincerity and willingness) they count for nothing; nothing more than meaningless and hollow articulated sounds. Words are a most vital in our communication with one another. They have great power to bring us together or drive us apart. Words can bring peace and comfort, or they can bring war and conflict. Words have power; for both good and bad. Every single day words have the ability to open the encounters of our hearts and minds to new and exciting interpretations. In our daily lives words also have the ability to rob us of meaningful relationships. Words cannot stand alone. Unless there is substance, trust and action behind them, they are nothing more than meaningless verbiage that drive wedges between us, and those we love.

The Apostle John understood the need to not only speak the truth, but live it as well. In his first letter he wrote, “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” Literally translated: "...let us love, not with lip service, but in truth and action." A colleague of mine when preaching often says in his opening prayer, “Lord, let me faithfully preach the Gospel today, and when necessary --- use words.” Each of us is called to live our lives as faithful Christians who read, digest and embrace God’s Holy Word. After all, Christ is the living Word of God; the way, the truth and the life. We can profess this all day long, but in the end do we practice what we preach? Do we put our faith in active motion and truly live as wholesome examples in Christ?

In his first epistle John maintains consistency with his Gospel. He emphasizes the importance of faith actions and deeds. For John, this is vital and relevant to our salvation. While love, truth and light are revealed in Christ they only become pertinent in our lives through active faith (deeds and actions). Many of us know how to talk the talk (for some of us talking has never been a problem), but do we know how to walk the walk?

These 50 days of Easter are about learning to both talk the talk as well as walk the walk. Easter presents us with multiple opportunities to encounter the Risen Lord, and like the Apostles, allow him to open our minds to his Word. Like the disciples after the resurrection, once we encounter the Risen Lord and inwardly digest his living Word, we can’t help but move into truthful and loving action.

The bottom line – it is easy to say we love others and want to reach out to them in reconciliation, kindness or thoughtful concern; but unless we seek them with truthful intentions and right actions our faith becomes stagnant and wrought with despair. Know Christ, but live Christ and make him known!