Furious Chapter 25 Devotional

Faith Through Love

It’s easy to breeze past Paul’s words in this verse as if they were just a spiritual-sounding word-salad. But stop for a moment and ask yourself the question: what does it mean for faith to express itself in love?

Paul says this is what matters most. Not rule-keeping. Not religious performance. Not ethnic identity, or external rituals. What counts is whether your faith shows up, not just in your words, but in how you treat people.

I want to share a story that, honestly, I hesitated to tell because I don’t want it to sound like I’m the hero. I’m not. But I think it illustrates what Paul had in mind—and it might help you recognize similar moments in your own life.

I was sitting in a Denny’s one night, working on one of my books. I used to go there often because it had an outlet next to the booth and endless coffee refills. The waitress on shift that night looked especially downcast. So, I struck up a conversation with her.

Turns out, her life was falling apart. She was battling addiction. Her kids weren’t speaking to her. She was on the brink of homelessness. She was doing everything she could to survive, and it was clear she was about to giving up.

I listened. I shared the Gospel. I prayed with her. She surrendered her life to Jesus. And as I gathered my things to leave, I sensed that the Lord wasn’t done yet. In the face of her practical need, I felt the Gospel I had spoken needed to become tangible in some way.

So, I left a tip. Not a “generous” tip. An outrageous one. Something that would make no sense on paper—but would speak clearly: God sees you. He loves you. You’re not alone.

When she saw it, she broke down in tears. Not because of the money itself, but because of what it represented. In that moment, she didn’t just hear about the love of God—she felt it. Tangibly. Personally. Through a simple act of kindness.

That’s what faith does. It doesn’t just believe the right doctrines. It moves toward people. It responds to brokenness. It doesn’t only say “God loves you.” It finds a way to show it.

🔥 Reflection

Can you think of someone near you who needs more than a word of encouragement—someone who needs to feel the love of God through action? What would it look like for your faith to take shape as kindness, compassion, or generosity?

🙏 Prayer

Jesus, thank You for loving me with more than words. Help me to trust You more fully—and let that trust overflow in acts of love that point others to You. Open my eyes to the needs around me, and move me to respond with faith that acts.

📣 Call-to-Action

This week, don’t just await for the perfect opportunity. Look for it. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one way your faith can be expressed through love—in a text, a gift, a kind word, or a quiet act of generosity. Then act on it.