Read – 1 John 3:18-24
Talk is cheap.
Actions speak louder than words.
Don’t tell me you love me; show me!
Words are plentiful; deeds are precious.
John challenges those of us who talk a good game, but whose actions aren’t convincing. It’s easy to profess love for someone but it’s a lot harder to follow through. Actions are what really matter. They either affirm or refute our claims of love. What is more, your actions show whether or not you belong to the truth, that is, whether or not you belong to God.
If you go beyond mere words and actually (actionally?) do love others, John writes that you can have confidence as you stand before God. That confidence leads to receiving from God whatever you ask, knowing that your obedience has pleased him.
God's expectation of every Christian is summed up in this commandment: “… believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us.” When you do that, you can confidently know that you are in fellowship with God.