But With Truth and Action

Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action. 1 John 3:18

I want to pause for a moment, in a kind of moment of reflection from all the reformed theological chit chat and just to focus in on this verse. As a reformer myself, it’s so easy to get caught up in our research and studies of the guys who have inspired us in some way. And that’s not a bad thing at all! We know this is not a bad thing because Paul himself says in 1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

But I was really humbled this morning by this verse. Firstly the beginning of this verse addresses Christians as ‘little children’, and that’s what we are, small little children of Christ, regardless of our knowledge of reformed theology, regardless of who we read or what debate we encounter. We are the Lord’s little children by virtue of our adoption by the order of the Lord Himself.

Our love is far more greatly appreciated by truth and action, so that anyone who does a good deed should do so as one who knows the living Christ! This verse is not simply saying “we must love with action.” No! The response is “…but with TRUTH and action!” So if Christ Himself says “I am the way, the truth and the life” in John 14:6, then our deeds must be in response to Christ who is alive and all things done through Him, by Him for Him as we are His little children!

And what a humbling thought that is, that regardless of our knowledge of church history, reformed theology and so forth, it is the Lord who has called us His little children. We are one in Christ, let us never become so prideful in our own attained knowledge of reformed theology that we forget great things like this. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not condemning attaining such knowledge but that knowledge can breed pride. As Proverbs 11:2 says: “When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. So let us continue to reflect the things that humble us, the things that destroy our pride, our self-boasting. May we strive to continue in both truth and good deeds for the glory of the Lord.