“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
– 1 John 3:18

Before Arnold Palmer won the Masters in 1960, he agreed to play in an exhibition the week following the event. After winning the tournament, Palmer’s agent received a call from the organizers of the event. They assumed Palmer would either not be coming or his fee would be significantly higher. What would Palmer do? He told them he would not only honor his commitment, but he would also do another event for them the next year for the same price. Palmer explained that they wanted him long before he had won a major championship. His circumstances had changed, but his integrity was still evident.

People say Arnold Palmer never changed despite his wealth and popularity. Palmer obviously received a firm foundation early in life that stayed with him as money and fame came his way. What about us? Do we honor our word and our commitments or do we sometimes suffer short-term memory? God’s Word reminds us that we have to “walk the walk”, not just “talk the talk.” Would someone be able to look at our life and know that we follow Jesus Christ without us telling them? Our challenge is to focus on being men and women of action, not just words.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word that “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18