PODCAST
Sincere Love
July 19th, 2013
Romans 12:9-21
Forgery is a common occurrence in our world. People try to create counterfeit art, money, credit cards, and the list goes on and on. I have to admit, I am not sure if I can always tell the difference between a fake item and a real one. Can you?
How about when it comes to our relationships? Could we be able to distinguish between actions that are sincere from those that are insincere? Paul gives us the litmus test for love that is genuine; that is, what it looks like to give and/or receive authentic love. It is as if Paul is saying, “Do you want to know if your love toward someone else is sincere? Here are the things that must be present for God’s love to truly be expressed toward another.”
Love is not just an emotion, but it is Christ working and moving in and through the things we say and do. It is encountering others with a sincere love that is empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is reflecting the image of God in the way we act and react.
Author: Mike Wonch
July 19th, 2013 at 8:39 am
A litmus test qualifies whether something is an acid or an alkaline; likewise, “love” qualifies Christianity. However, unlike our human body, it is the food that we eat (digest) that produces this love. It is in the digesting (swallowing and letting our stomach acids breakdown the spiritual food of Jesus’ blood and flesh) that sends the nutrient of love through the body.
Love “neutralizes” as “salt” is neither an acid or and alkaline.