Obedience is NEVER unfruitful

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. (I John 3:18-22 NLT)

How many times have we experienced the 'do as I say and not as I do' scenario in life? If you are honest, you probably have actually done opposite of what you know is right to do on more than one occasion. When our testimony (what we say) isn't matching what we do, there is a disconnect somewhere. One of the things I needed to learn in life is that what I say doesn't matter if what I do doesn't line up with the things God wants me to pursue and emulate in life.

Let's not merely SAY that we love each other. There is no greater way to reveal God's love for a hurting and sinful world than to reveal it in our actions. What does love in action really look like? It forgives before someone seeks forgiveness. It makes a way of restoration even before restoration is sought. It gives above and beyond because to be blessed with so much and then not share those blessings is just not God's way. The actions of love look beyond oneself to see the needs of those surrounding us.

Something I have had to learn is that God is greater than my feelings. I don't always 'feel' like I should respond in love. I don't always 'feel' like grace is the response I want to give. I don't always 'feel' like I am supposed to go above and beyond for someone who maybe doesn't seem to really appreciate it. Yet it is God's desire for me to move beyond my feelings into a place of obedient action - even when the 'feeling' might be driving me in the opposite direction.

Obey him and do the things that please him. There is no wiggle room there, my friends. Obedience isn't an on-again/off-again scenario in our lives. It is to be a consistent part of our lives - even when we don't 'feel' like it. Some of the toughest 'actions' of obedience are those we are called to give when we are surrounded by those who neither want our love, nor do they realize they need God's love. We might our acts of love in those situations is just plain 'unproductive' or 'unfruitful'. There is NEVER an action based in love that is unfruitful!

God will use ever action based in love for his glory. We may not see it immediately, right there in the moment, but God always backs our actions of obedience with his power and his love. We just need to be sensitive to those moments when we may not 'feel' like obedience is necessary and move beyond those feelings into the actions of obedience. He does the rest. Just sayin!