When Faith Forgets Love

Faith without love is like a switch with no power—motion without light.

Devotional Credit: In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash

E. Stanley Jones draws a crucial distinction in today’s reflection from In Christ: not all faith glorifies God. He reveals that when faith is separated from love, it not only loses its beauty but also becomes a destructive force. This distortion has left a tragic mark on history—religious movements, even in the name of Christ, have sometimes weaponized belief without love, leaving damage in their wake.

Jones gives several examples: a man in Africa using faith to justify violence, Christian colonizers enforcing conversions, and a pastor attacking another in the name of doctrinal purity. Each one had zeal—but not the love of Christ. And without love, their faith wasn’t rooted in Christ at all. The fruit bore witness to the root.

What makes faith beautiful and redemptive is when it flows from love—specifically, the love of Christ dwelling within. Galatians 5:6 defines true faith as “faith working through love.” This is not a suggestion or an optional upgrade to Christian living; it’s the only authentic kind of faith the New Covenant affirms.

Faith in Jesus is not a license to judge, dominate, or defend our way of thinking. It’s a surrender to His life within us, allowing His love to be the defining feature of how we live, speak, and relate. When love leads, faith heals. When love lags, faith harms. The heart of Jones’ devotional is a gentle invitation: let the indwelling Christ re-center your faith in love.

Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture

My child, you were not called to defend Me with fury but to display Me through love. Your faith is real, but when it tries to stand apart from love, it misrepresents Me. I am love. And when I indwell you, I express My life in ways that heal, not harm; restore, not ruin; unite, not divide.

You are no longer under a law that forces righteousness from the outside. You now walk by the Spirit, who produces My fruit within you—love first, always love. Without it, your loudest declarations fall empty, your boldest stands leave bruises, and your greatest sacrifices gain nothing.

Remember, the life you now live in the flesh, you live by faith in Me—the Son of God who loved you and gave Myself for you. That love is not past tense; it is your present source. When you trust Me to live through you, love flows naturally, like branches bearing fruit from the Vine.

Do not think of faith as something to wield like a sword. Think of it as something that unites you to Me, moment by moment, so My Spirit expresses My heart through your surrendered life. You don’t need to prove your faith; you need only abide. When you trust Me in the moment, I will do the loving through you.

I have poured My love into your heart by the Holy Spirit. Let that be the aroma that follows you wherever you go—not religious zeal, but relational warmth. That’s when the world sees Me.

Scripture References: Galatians 5:6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Romans 5:5; Galatians 2:20; John 15:5; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 8:2; John 13:35; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 3:17-19; 1 John 4:7-12

Real-Life Analogy

Faith without love is like flipping on a light switch that’s not connected to anything—lots of motion, but no power. You can gesture, insist, and argue that the light should shine… but without the wiring of love, the current doesn’t flow.

In your next conversation—especially one that stirs conviction—pause and yield. Instead of reacting out of rightness, silently say to Me, “Lord, I trust You to love this person through me.” As you rest in Me, I will express My kindness, clarity, and patience in a way that transcends your own abilities. You’ll be surprised how the current of love carries truth farther than the volume of your voice ever could.

Prayer of Confidence

Father, You have joined me to Christ and filled my heart with His love. I no longer need to strive to prove my faith or convince others through pressure. You’ve given me Your Spirit, who bears the fruit of love in me. Thank You that I don’t need to force love—I only need to yield. Today, I rest in the simplicity of faith working through love. Let Christ be seen in me, not through religious effort, but through Your indwelling grace. I trust You to love through me in every moment.