Read

2 Corinthians 6:14-10:18

2 Corinthians 9:7, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Think

When you give someone a present, what is the reason behind it? Oh sure, we could rattle off answers like, “It’s their birthday,” or, “We always exchange presents at Christmas,” or, “My wife would disown me if I didn’t give her something on our anniversary!” But those aren’t reasons; they’re occasions.

The real reason behind any meaningful gift is one powerful four-letter word: LOVE — and love is a verb; it requires action!

When we love someone, we want to show them how much they mean to us. We can say it all day long, but the words don’t carry much weight until we actually carry out that emotion with action.

The same is true when it comes to our relationship with God. If you claim to love God, that’s great. It’s important to express it verbally. But are you genuinely showing Him your love through actions such as generosity, obedience, service in the local church, and helping those in need? When you prioritize what’s important to God, you’re not only saying, “I love You,” you’re truly fulfilling what He’s placed you here to do — and that is what truly warms His heart!

Pray

God, It’s not enough to just say I love you; I want to show it! Help me be faithful about putting my words into action as I live with intentionality and purpose each day. Amen.