The Sincerity of Love

Devotion:

Paul now moves into quick fire applications of what it means to be a Christian. We will spend some time looking at each one in turn. The first quick fire instruction is to let love be genuine. This cuts to the core of what it means to truly be a Christian. How is genuine Christian love different from other loves?

Genuine love is sincere. It really wants what is best for the other person even when they don’t reciprocate it. It’s a love that doesn’t wear masks, doesn’t play games, and doesn’t alter its intensity based on the audience. This type of love is beautifully raw and real, mirroring the love Christ has shown to us. It’s a love that isn’t just spoken but deeply felt and actively demonstrated. Genuine Christian love seeks to love the enemy, even when the enemy does not love back.

Secondly we are to “abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” How much do we need this today? Today it seems as if the constant thing we are being force-fed by the media, by the world, by our friends is to love what scripture calls evil. And to confuse what is good. The most recent example of this I saw happened only yesterday. In Australia, where I am writing this from, an orthodox bishop was stabbed in the middle of a worship service allegedly by an Islamic Jihadist. Instead of condemning the actions of the attacker, the UK Telegraph ran a story about how the bishop was a lockdown and vaccine sceptic. Regardless of what you think about vaccines and lockdowns, surely the media should be universally condemning the attack? Isn’t that what it means to abhor evil and to hold fast to what is good?

But no, that isn’t the world we live in. We live in a world who tells us to love evil, and confuse what is good.

Jesus never did that. He exemplified this in his life and in his ministry. His love was always genuine. Whether He was healing the sick, welcoming little children, or challenging the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, His actions were rooted in pure love. Overturning the tables in the temple was an example of abhorring evil, and loving what is good.

But Jesus didn’t just avoid evil, He actively opposed it. He conquered it, even though it cost him his life. So now you get to hold on to what is good.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us the perfect example of genuine love through Your Son, Jesus. Help me to embody this same love in all aspects of my life. Give me the strength to abhor what is evil and the courage to hold fast to what is good, so that my life may reflect Your truth and grace. Teach me to love not just in words, but in actions and in truth, as a living testimony of Your love in the world. Amen.

Spiritual Challenge for the Day:

Today, examine the authenticity of your love. Reflect on your interactions and consider if your love might sometimes wear a mask of convenience or selfishness. Challenge yourself to one act of genuine love today—perhaps a task or gesture that requires sacrifice or stepping out of your comfort zone, done purely for the good of another, without expecting anything in return.