1st September 2023
Sincere Christian love
Love must be sincere.
Romans 12:9 (NIVUK)
Have you noticed how often we human beings say things we don’t really mean? Sometimes it can be a trivial matter – for example, we might say to someone, ‘How nice to see you again’, when really, we wish we hadn’t bumped into the person. Other times it can be on more serious topics, such as politicians promising things before an election that they have no intention of delivering once elected. Occasionally, it can have a profound personal effect on an individual’s life. Many hearts have been broken and lives ruined by someone saying ‘I love you’ when they didn’t mean it.
According to the Apostle Paul, true Christian love must always be sincere or genuine (Romans 12:9 ESVUK). This is when our hearts, intentions, and actions match the words we speak to everyone we come into contact with. However, W.E.Vine writes that Christian love ‘does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered.’ In other words, Christian love is not natural. What is natural is to love those whom we consider to be loveable, who are like us, who do what we think is right, or who please us in some way.
Sincere, genuine Christian love must transcend our boundaries and prejudices, but how is this possible when human beings are prone to be insincere and less than genuine when it comes to this matter of love? The answer is, only through the supernatural love of God filling our lives and spilling over into the lives of others:
- God so loved the world that he sent his Son Jesus (John 3:16),
- God showed his love to us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8),
- This love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), and
- As a result, we are to, and can, love one another as Christ has loved us (John 15:12-17).
Sincere and genuine love is predicated on Jesus’ sacrifice for us and can only come as a product of God’s grace in our lives. Do not settle for a fake love, where we say the right things, but our actions betray us. Rather, as God’s love shapes a believer’s life, our words and deeds will overflow with sincere and genuine love toward others.
Prayer
Loving Father, we pray that your love, shown to us at the cross, may fill our hearts through the Holy Spirit so that we can share your love with others, and point them to you as the one from whom all genuine and sincere love flows. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Barry Robinson
About the writer:
Barry Robinson is a minister in Grace Communion International and Regional Pastor for Southern England.
Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre,
150 Brassey Road,
West Hampstead,
London NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Barry Robinson
Email: barry.robinson@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church