Daily Devotional

Do you remember playing the game “Sorry!”? I was playing not too long ago with my sons, and I forgot how fun and simple the game is. Like me, my sons are highly competitive and so whenever either of them got a card that let them push each other’s pieces back to the beginning, they would sarcastically say to the other "Sorry" in the least sympathetic voice possible. Even though they’d say sorry to each other, I knew they didn't mean it. There was no sincerity to their words regardless of what was said. They loved making each other start over. That's part of the fun of the game! We know that when words are not met with an action or follow-through, we stop believing them, especially in families. Our loving words can lose meaning if intentional acts of care, support, kindness, and encouragement don’t back them up.

John had a front-row seat to the way Jesus loved others. His teachings were written to help future Jesus followers practice their beliefs. He tells us that Jesus went beyond saying He loved us and showed us! Not only was John an eyewitness to Jesus' compassionate action as He met the needs of those around Him, but John also saw Jesus die on the cross for our sins; He witnessed Jesus' love in action.

James shares something similar in James 2:1–19, equating our belief to our action. He says some people only use their words to show their faith but faith without action is essentially worthless. A lot of people can talk but it takes more energy to do what we believe. As we reflect on this today, may we remember that words may tell people what we believe but our actions are what show them the love, peace, and hope that we have in Jesus. Even when we don't have the words to say, we can show people our love for them in our deeds because we know our actions can speak when words aren't enough.

Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.