Genuine Love
“Genuine love requires concentration and effort.” (1)
This little gem was found in the footnote for Romans 12:9&10 of my Life Application Bible.
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.”
The whole of Romans 12 is about being a living sacrifice to God and about personal responsibility. To me, it’s about being Jesus with skin on. If you’re not familiar with that saying, it might sound a little weird to you....Jesus with SKIN? Well, maybe not literally putting our skin on Jesus....but it’s about representing Jesus to others through our actions, attitudes, attention, and application of His word. In other words, our love of Christ shines through us.
Paul is without a doubt, one of the most amazing examples to us as Christians; He encourages in such a clear and concise manner; his instruction leaves no stone unturned, nor question as for the heights we are to strive. In all the world’s happenings, do you notice the undertones of hate? Currently we live in a news era crowded with shootings, political upheaval, and the media entertainment’s focus seems steeped in witchcraft, zombies, and crime where all things are attainable through our desires, anger, revenge, and self sufficiency. It is the opposite of how Paul instructs us to live as he instructs us in verse two: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
David wrote, “I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law” Psalms 119:163, later going on to promise in verse 165, “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble”. This ties in beautifully with Paul’s appeal to us to look to Christ. Isn’t it wonderful to know that a great peace, a GREAT PEACE can be ours? It’s free; a gift served with love, tenderness, instruction, forgiveness and the ability to live without shame of anything, because we can serve a God who loves and forgives. When we free ourselves of the bindings of sin we truly can be more focused and genuine in our efforts to love. It’s hard work, people! I am right there with you and will publicly attest that I couldn’t do this on my own; I need God’s grace every single day.
Luke 5:32 clearly invites all to step into the fold of forgiveness and genuine love; “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance”. In this, we have the wisdom, strength, knowledge, compassion, and ability to truly love others and ourselves from the most beautiful example of Christ. For God has saved us and called us to live a Holy life, 2 Timothy 1:9, the only way we can truly and completely experience genuine love.
2004, Life Application Bible, New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.