August 9, Love well!
Love must be without hypocrisy.
Romans 12:9
Christian love demonstrates honest and sincere love – a love without pretense. This prescribes for every follower of Jesus a love that is not in word only, but also in deed. Paul reminded Timothy that the objective of their ministry is a love that comes from a pure heart (I Timothy 1:5). So from the Scriptures, a pure love (with no contingencies nor conditions) from a sincere heart (with no pretensions or double talk) validates one who follows Jesus, and one who leads in the ministry of the church. So, Christ-follower, love without hypocrisy. Christian leader, let your love be more than just words.
To better avoid the error of superficial love, take note of the following instructions from the Scriptures.
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." (I John 4:20)
Hypocritical love attempts to honor God with sincere affection of the heart while despising others. This becomes such an egregious error that John labeled the offender a liar. There is no room in the heart of a follower of Jesus for hatred against another. Hating others while claiming to love God is so incongruent that the result is nothing more than a falsity – a lie.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? (James 2:14-16)
As James reminds us that faith is expressed in deeds, so true love can only become a reality when acted upon in genuine ways. To wish blessings upon someone in need without engaging their needs is to express a false sense of care and love. James’ rhetorical question gives a accurate summary: “what good is it?” What good is faith that is only talked about? What good is love that is only done with word and not deed?
These two examples remind the follower of Jesus that love cannot be expressed without a pure heart that actively serves others. So with this encouragement before us, let's address 5 negative expressions of love that causes us to act hypocritically toward others.
Do not withhold love (Proverbs 3:27, “do not withhold the good that is due to another”).
Do not act lovely toward someone only to speak ill of them behind their backs. Romans 12:17 reminds us to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
Do not take up an offense against another but strive to forgive. The Scriptures instruct, “forgive as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
Do not mirror another’s negative actions: love even when you are not loved. Jesus said, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Do not practice favoritism, but love all others equally (Romans 2:11, “there is no partiality with God”).
Let’s go forward today in genuine love. May we not simply act lovely. May we embody the love of Christ, and may we genuinely love all others even as God has loved us. Sincere love from a pure heart. This is the answer to society's greatest need: the need for pure love.
Blessings.
READ
Read Romans 12:9-21 and rediscover the actions of pure and sincere love.
