Wednesday, November 20, 2013

genuine love.

"Let love be genuine.  Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection.  Outdo one another in showing honor." 
Romans 12 : 9-10

Let love be genuine.  Not love when you feel like it, or love when the other person loves you.  No, let it be genuine.  What is genuine love? What kind of love is worthy to be described as genuine, true, and honorable?  Let's look.

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on it's own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 
1 Corinthians 13 : 4-7  

Wow.  To have what the Bible describes as genuine love would be amazing.  Imagine it.  Christ would always come first, tempers would never be lost, grudges would never be held, truth would be cherished, hope would flourish.  (And let's be honest, decisions would never be made.)  Life would be perfect.  And although that perfection will never be achieved due to our ever powerful sin nature, what is there to stop us from putting love first and striving towards the fulfillment of that perfect place?  So join me.  Let's put love first, being patient and kind, not being envious or boastful.  And what do you know?  Maybe someone else will catch on and together we can make this world a more lovely place.

found on Pinterest


*all Bible verses are ESV*