Title: “Let Love Be More Than Words”
Scripture: 1 John 3:17–18 (NKJV)
“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
There are moments in life when God interrupts our routine to remind us what true Christianity looks like.
I remember one such moment. It was an ordinary afternoon. I had just finished an appointment in the city and was waiting for my ride when I noticed a young boy sitting by the edge of the sidewalk. His clothes were torn, his feet bare, his face tired and longing. He watched as people passed him by, each one too hurried or too distracted to see him. Or perhaps they saw, but didn’t stop.
And to be honest, I almost didn’t either.
I felt that quiet prompting of the Holy Spirit—the one that nudges your heart and makes it uncomfortable to walk away. But like many of us do at times, I hesitated. I thought of my own schedule, my own needs, and those convenient excuses: “What if it’s a scam? I’ve already given before. I’m in a rush.”
But the Word of God pierced through all those thoughts.
“How does the love of God abide in him?”
That verse from 1 John echoed clearly in my spirit. God was not asking me for a grand gesture—He was asking me to live the truth I preach. Not just to speak love, but to show it. Not just to feel compassion, but to act on it.
So I did. I walked over, bought some food and water, and gently handed it to the boy. He looked up, surprised, and whispered, “Salamat po.” That was all. He didn’t need a sermon. He needed a sandwich. He didn’t need advice. He needed affection—in action.
That moment reminded me of a deep truth: Love is not a language of the lips; it is a lifestyle of the heart.
As followers of Christ, our greatest testimony is not how well we speak, but how well we love. Not just in our prayers and preaching, but in our response to need. Jesus did not merely say, “I love you”—He proved it on the cross. And now, He calls us to reflect that love with our hands, our time, our resources, and our presence.
Dear brothers and sisters, we live in a world overflowing with words, yet starving for action. The Church must rise not only to proclaim the Gospel, but to embody it—to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a broken world.
Let us not be content with saying, “God bless you,” while withholding what we could give. Let us not merely talk about love, but walk it out in every opportunity the Lord gives.
Today, maybe God is placing someone in your path. Will you open your heart? Will you let love move you?
Because love that is truly from God… doesn’t just speak—it serves.
Let us love, not in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. Amen.
BE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!
BRAZA, C.N.
“Ngunit kung ang sinumang may kayamanan sa sanlibutan, at nakita ang kanyang kapatid na nangangailangan, ngunit isinara ang kanyang puso laban sa kanya, paanong mananatili sa kanya ang pag-ibig ng Diyos? Munting mga anak, huwag tayong umibig sa salita o sa dila lamang, kundi sa gawa at sa katotohanan.”
May mga sandali sa buhay kung kailan sadyang hinahawi ng Diyos ang ating abalang araw upang ipaalala kung ano ang tunay na anyo ng Kristiyanong pamumuhay.
Isang hapon, matapos ang isang pagpupulong sa lungsod, habang ako’y naghihintay ng masasakyan pauwi, napansin ko ang isang batang lalaki sa gilid ng kalsada. Wala siyang sapatos, marumi ang kanyang damit, at tila gutom na gutom. Tahimik niyang pinagmamasdan ang mga taong nagdaraan—lahat ay abala, walang nakakakita o baka ayaw lamang tumingin.
At aaminin ko po, muntik na rin akong dumaan lang.
Naroon ang mahinang tinig ng Banal na Espiritu na humahaplos sa puso—yung klaseng tawag ng Diyos na hindi mo basta-basta maaaring balewalain. Pero gaya ng madalas nating ginagawa, may mga dahilan agad akong naisip: “Marami na akong natulungan. Wala ako sa tamang oras. Paano kung modus lang?”
Ngunit sumagi sa isip ko ang salita sa 1 Juan 3:17:
“Paanong mananatili sa kanya ang pag-ibig ng Diyos?”
Maliwanag ang paalala ng Diyos: Hindi Niya hinihiling ang engrandeng aksyon, kundi ang pusong handang tumugon. Hindi sapat ang damdamin—kailangan ng pagkilos. Hindi sapat ang pag-ibig sa pananalita—dapat ito’y makitang buhay sa ating gawa.
Lumapit ako. Bumili ng pagkain at inumin at ibinigay sa bata. Tiningnan niya ako, tila naguguluhan. Ngunit ng makita niyang totoo ito, ngumiti siya—isang ngiting totoo’t taos-puso. “Salamat po,” ang bulong niya.
Hindi ko binago ang mundo noon. Hindi ko tinapos ang kahirapan. Pero sa maliit na sandaling iyon, ang pag-ibig ay naging gawa—hindi lamang salita.
Mga kapatid, ang tunay na pag-ibig ay hindi puro “God bless” lang. Ito ay pagkain sa gutom, yakap sa nalulumbay, pakikiramay sa may pasan. Ipinakita ni Jesus ang sukdulang pag-ibig hindi sa pamamagitan ng salita, kundi sa krus.
Bilang Kanyang mga tagasunod, tayo ay tinatawag na magmahal hindi lamang sa salita kundi sa katotohanan at gawa. Hindi sapat na sabihin nating tayo’y Kristiyano. Kailangan makita sa ating buhay ang pag-ibig ni Cristo.
Ngayong araw, baka mayroon kang makasalubong na nangangailangan. Handa ka bang tumugon? Bubuksan mo ba ang iyong puso?
Pag-ibig na totoo ay hindi lang sinasabi—kundi ginagawa.
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