什麼原因會促使一個人去幫助競爭對手呢？對美國威斯康辛州的餐館老闆阿多夫（Adolfo）而言，這是一個鼓勵當地其他餐館業主的機會。在疫情期間，許多當地的餐館因為防止病毒傳播的措施而經營困難。阿多夫也親身經歷了在疫情期間餐館所面臨的挑戰，但他有幸得到另一家當地企業的協助和鼓勵，渡過了難關。於是，阿多夫自掏腰包，購買了2,000美元其他餐館的用餐券，送給自己的顧客，讓他們到社區內的其他餐館使用。這種愛的表現不僅是在言語上，也是在行動上。

耶穌願意為世人捨命，展示出愛的終極表現（約翰一書3章16節）。因此，使徒約翰鼓勵信徒踏出下一步，把愛付諸行動。對約翰而言，「為弟兄捨命」（16節），意味著展現出耶穌所示範的那種愛。這樣的愛通常表現在每一天的實際行動中，例如分享物質財富。僅用言語表達愛是不夠的，愛需要真誠且有意義的行動（18節）。

將愛付諸行動並不容易，因為這往往需要作出個人的犧牲，或為了別人而不顧自己的利益。但我們靠著上帝的靈，謹記祂對我們的厚愛，就能踏出下一步，把愛付諸行動。

What would cause someone to help a competitor? For a restaurant owner named Adolfo in Wisconsin, it was the opportunity to encourage other struggling local restaurant owners adapting to Covid regulations. Adolfo knew firsthand the challenges of operating a business during a pandemic. Encouraged by another local business’ generosity, Adolfo spent his own money to purchase more than two thousand dollars in gift cards to give away to his customers to use at other restaurants in his community. That’s an expression of love that’s not just words but action.  

Building on the ultimate expression of love demonstrated by Jesus’ willingness to lay down His life for humanity (1 John 3:16), John encouraged his readers to also take the next step and put love into action. For John, to “lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (v. 16) meant demonstrating the same type of love exemplified by Jesus—and that would most often take the form of everyday, practical actions, such as sharing material possessions. It wasn’t enough to love with words; love required sincere, meaningful actions (v. 18).

Putting love into action can be hard because it often requires personal sacrifice or disadvantaging ourselves for another person. Enabled by God’s Spirit and remembering His lavish love for us, we can take the next step of love.