Let me ask you something. How do you know if someone has faith?
Sure, you might notice a bracelet with a cross charm or a Bible verse tattoo on someone’s arm and assume they are a man or woman of faith, but this is no more than an educated guess.
You also might hear someone boldly proclaim that they are a follower of Jesus. This is always SUCH a joy to witness and yes, this is certainly a good indicator of faith, but sometimes we find that one’s words and actions do not align. I had a roommate in college who proudly declared she was a woman of faith, but spent significantly more time at the bars than in the Word of God.
Now, it is not my job to judge a person’s faith. God alone has that role. I merely want us to consider that faith is best seen through our actions. When the first disciples questioned Jesus about which commandment was the most important, He provided two essential instructions for how to live out our faith.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:36-39
If you’ve been with Faithful Workouts for a while, you likely know that a key saying we share is “Love God, Love People, and Share His Message.” You also may have seen me repping the phrase in some of our recent workout videos. This saying we repeat so often stems from Jesus’ words above. As followers of Jesus, we are called to demonstrate supreme love to God and sincere love to His people. Today, I want to take some time to really dig into how we demonstrate faith through our actions.
Loving God is a commitment to place Him as the #1 priority in our life. Often, I’ve found that those who have fallen away from their faith have come to love culture more than God. When we love God the way He desires, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, it inevitably shines through our actions.
To love God with all our heart is to offer Him our deepest emotions and affections.
Loving God with all our mind is engaging our intellect in the pursuit of understanding and knowing Him more deeply (studying His Word, reflecting on His teachings, and seeking wisdom and insight through prayer and meditation.)
Loving God with all our soul and strength is about surrendering our will to His, which empowers us to demonstrate God’s love for the world through our actions.
Consider the simple acts of kindness extended to a neighbor in need, the comforting presence offered to someone in distress, or the forgiveness granted to those who have wronged us. These are not just acts of kindness but reflections of the divine love dwelling within us.
Would you agree that a person’s willingness to offer a helping hand or pray over a friend is a pretty good sign of faith?
The Apostle John famously wrote that we should not love with words, but with actions. This encapsulates the essence of how the love of God is meant to be expressed—through tangible actions rooted in genuine compassion and sincerity.
Shortly before Jesus’ death and Resurrection, He again shares and further explains the importance of loving others: It is how we prove to the world that we are His disciples.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
John 13: 34-35
We are put on this planet to love one another. This means giving our time, resources, energy, talents, and hearts to others. Is this always easy? Absolutely not. This can be BEYOND challenging at times…especially when dealing with someone who is a little tougher to love. In the moments when I realllllyyyy am struggling to show love to someone, I try to reflect on the great love that God has shown me. He will teach you how to show love to others and give you the strength to carry it out.
I also want to note that it doesn’t have to be an “extraordinary” act to be an act of love. Sometimes it’s just being present with another. It’s showing up, even when you don’t know what you can do or say to help another.
One way I enjoy spreading love to others is by sharing inspiring and encouraging messages. You can listen to the latest here. I even have one about loving God and loving people that might be the powerful message a friend of yours needs to hear.
Every disciple of Jesus has the same purpose: to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
You don’t have to work within the ministry to do this. You don’t have to be a pastor or theology scholar or found a nonprofit. We are all called – in our ordinary lives – to be His messengers.
Despite hesitancy from his early followers, Jesus assured them that they were ready to go from student to teacher. Matthew 28:16-20 documents this Great Commission, where Jesus instructs his followers to go and make disciples of all nations.
He commissioned them – and all of us – to share His message.
We have been called to share God’s message. May we answer with an empowered, emboldened, emphatic…“YES, LORD!”
You may be looking at these and not know where to begin. Take a moment to pause – let go of all other thoughts – and reflect on the one area you want to take a step toward in the upcoming days.
May we be a people who overflow with the love of the Lord.
Abbey holds a degree in journalism from Indiana University. Her favorite topics to cover are spiritual development, nutrition, and the importance of community and connection. Currently, she and her husband live in Michigan where she works in active ministry. In her free time you’ll likely find her nose deep in a book, leading group fitness classes, or experimenting in the kitchen.
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