Loving with Action and Truth

Loving with Action and Truth
Words of Faith 5-24-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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1 John 3
[16] This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. [17] If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? [18] Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

We live in a world of unmet needs-- and the need is so vast! It is tempting to just back away altogether. We know that we will never meet all the needs of all the people in this world, and we may even wonder if we should even try.
Yet the love of Christ compels us to do something. The starfish story comes to mind. It has been told in secular and sacred circles but makes the point powerfully. Perhaps you have heard it:
A man walking along the seashore sees a young man throwing starfish back into the surf. The creatures had washed up and were dying in the sunlight. The traveler asks the young man if he does not realize that the task is too large and that what he is doing will not make a difference. To which the young fellow throws another starfish to safety and replies, "It made a difference to that one..."
We mustn't give up. Jesus laid His life down for us. We need to lay aside some of our luxuries and do what we can where we can, even if only to save one starfish. The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Galatia, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (6:9).
John clearly expresses God's heart: "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
Even if our effort is small or our contribution seemingly meager, let us make a difference for that one.

Lord, Jesus, help me see the starfish you want me to save today. Help me see the little thing that will make a difference for just one person. Help me see Your Kingdom that is as tiny as a mustard seed. Help me make Kingdom choices today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.