Movement

Written by cycleguy on February 26th, 2014

Monday evening I was visiting with a family of various adult ages and was trying to illustrate the tie faith has with repentance, confession, and, ultimately, baptism. I used a practical illustration. I looked at the young man and said, “(His name), suppose you told (name of fiance’) you loved her, then hauled off and slugged her. Do you think she would feel your actions back your words?” It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to answer that.

Love moves to action. If I say, “I love you” my actions should (operative word) back what I say. If I say “I love Jesus” then my actions should put feet to my faith.

Then, as it would happen, I was on my way home from the orthodontist today (Wednesday) and this song came on my CD player. This song was written for “To Write Love On Her Arms”-a ministry to help those who “cut.” But the basic truth of the song is true for life: love is a movement. It is never stagnant.

The Good News of Jesus was never meant to be kept to ourselves.

I’m reminded of words Someone once said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” That verse speaks of love being a movement. We fail when we don’t.

Your thoughts?

 

 

18 Comments so far ↓

  1. Daniel says:

    Love has no greater example than this, that one willingly gives the last yummy, delicious, fudgy brownie to his daughter instead of scarfing it down himself.

  2. the Old Adam says:

    Jesus loves us so much…that He won’t let us win.

    He kills us (right away) in Baptism. So that now “we are to consider ourselves dead to sin”.

    Death…to life. That, is real movement.

  3. Andy says:

    Your comments are a homerun.

    I have spent so much of my time on earth making assumptions, thinking bad about other people, foolishly competing over worldly things…And all the while I was commanded to love. I am so glad I have made great strides in this area although I am far from perfect. Maybe even further from perfect as I laid down 22 years of skoal 3 weeks ago:)

    One last thing…I just told my wife about your post, because she has heard so much on the subject of children “cutting” and I truly had no idea that there exists such a prevalence of this behavior. Such a sad ordeal. To be MADE by God, to be SAVED thru Christ, to be BORN in America, it just seems so unfortunate that we have people who are dealing with such issues.

    Your lesson on the demoniac plays right into this. If we truly love everyone, as Jesus did this monster who dwelled within a cemetery, we could help them carry their burdens and make their load that much lighter.

  4. Faith without works is dead

  5. Zee says:

    I wanted to write something wise and smart, and ended up deleting the entire comment because it was “too good to be true.”

    Phrase “I love you” has to be backed up by actions. Actually, it’s the other way. Actions come first. There are so many people for whom saying “I love you” is incredibly hard, yet all their actions scream about that unspeakable love.

    And yet… it is so easily said, so hard to actually do it when our selfish selves are concerned… *sigh*

    • cycleguy says:

      You could have said it. I would have probably believed it. 🙂 You are right about the phrase “I love you.” I wonder if they work hand in hand? Just thinking out loud. But you are right in saying it is easier said.

  6. floyd says:

    Yeah, great verse. All of scripture is the action of the Father and the Son loving their creation… even the ones who hate disrespect them. If that is our example, then action it is. Short, but powerful post… and you know I love a good analogy. The “punch” used in your illustration packs a good one!

  7. Love is inseparably connected with actions in the scripture. If we love him, we’ll keep his commandments. It’s convicting to step back and see if my actions are really displaying a love towards him.

  8. David Rupert says:

    I have had “Friends” who are willing to give me a thumbs up on Facebook or a pat on the back at church, but when my life went upside down, they disappeared.

    • cycleguy says:

      Glad you put quotes around friends David. I consider them not a friend when they turn away cuz life turns upside down. That’s not love either.