It’s easy to grow jaded from hearing “I love you” and then seeing the sentiment fall flat when actions don’t back it up. But real love goes beyond cheap talk. It shows itself by its genuine acts. Love that is put into action is dynamic and grabs our attention.

God backs up His words with sacrificial action. God is defined by many attributes in the Bible, but the greatest expression of who He is is His decision to sacrifice one of the dearest things to Him—His Son—for us. God knew we needed a perfect Savior to make right our many, many wrongs. So “God sent his Son . . . to save” (John 3:17). God knows our problem: We have a condition called sin that separates us from Him. This problem will have to be judged when we die. And each of us is like a criminal who has done deep wrong and needs a just punishment to pay for it.

But God has put His plan of love into action by sending His precious Son, Jesus, to pay for our sins. When Jesus obeyed God the Father, even though it required His death on our behalf, He showed us that there was no limit to the extent He would go to bring men, women, and children back to Himself. God doesn’t just say, “I love you.” He says, “I died for you.” Come receive His gift of forgiveness. This is love backed by not just words but an obedient, loving Savior who gave up His life to save us.Watch & Listen: Jesus Words as “The Way”