{Be Encouraged} Let Love Be Genuine
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13
If I am being completely honest, these verses can be very overwhelming to me. Just look at them, how many things are listed there that I am supposed to do!? So many…and so many of them I fall short of on most days.
As I was reading over them today I stopped after the first four words. “Let love be genuine”…those words. Those are the words that the rest of the verses flow from, they are to be the driving force -the reason that we do what we do. If our motive for serving one another, praying for one another, rejoicing with one each other and even honor others is disingenuous than we are not following the commands of the Lord and bringing honor to His name.
Sometimes actions can be easy to do without checking out motives to make sure that we are caring for one another selflessly out of a genuine care and love. It can be hard for me at times to not view these verses as a check list for what I need to do to be a “good Christian”. I so often over look the reason of genuine love and go straight for the actions without grounding them in their meaning and purpose.
There have been many times in my life when I have experienced both sides of this issue, times when I’ve been served because that was just what was expected and times when I have been served out of a genuine love and care, and I can honestly say that the second way had a profound impact on my life.
People can tell when you are loving out of a genuine and sincere heart…that kind of love changes lives and makes a difference. That is the kind of love that died on the cross to save us from the penalty of death that we so rightfully deserved. Genuine and sincere love, is loving as exemplified by Christ. It is not an easy thing to do, but it is easier to do when we realize that it is how we are being loved by the one who created us.
In what ways can you work on cultivating a genuine and sincere love for those around you this week?
May the Lord show you more fully the extent of His love and grace this week as you seek to serve Him and love those around you with a more genuine love.
– Kristina
