If you take a course on writing or attend a writer’s conference, you’ll
likely hear the phrase, “Show, don’t tell.” In other words, “show” your readers
what is happening, don’t just tell them. Don’t tell readers what you did;
describe doing it.
One of the reasons we tend to tell rather than show is that it’s easier
and faster. Showing how to do something requires time and effort. In teaching,
it’s easier to tell students what’s wrong with what they did than to show them
how to do it right. The latter, however, is more effective.
For thousands of years, the Jewish people had only the law telling them
what to do and what not to do. But then came Jesus Christ, who showed them how
to live the life God had been telling them about all along. Jesus didn’t just
say, “Be humble”; He “humbled Himself” (Phil. 2:8). He didn’t just say,
“Forgive others”; He forgave us (Col. 3:13). He didn’t just say, “Love God and
your neighbors”; He demonstrated love by His actions (John 15:12).
Christ’s perfect example of love shows how great God’s love is for us
and how we are to show His love to others.
Love is God’s will in action. (RBC)
