It’s time for KISS — Keep It Simple, Stupid! That was my broadcasting professor’s motto in college. That principle made my writing better, and it also translates into life. So often we complicate love and relationships, or we abuse them with insincerity. But what God asks of us is simple. No more acting, love each other sincerely.
Romans 12:9 reminds us to “Let love be genuine…”, and in other versions the word is translated that love must be sincere.
Why would the early church planter, Paul, have to remind God’s people to love sincerely? Because our natural bent is to serve ourselves. Because it’s really easy to do things out of selfish ambition instead of thinking of someone else’s good.
But our love points to Christ. And Christ was a giver, not a taker.
But our love points to Christ. And Christ was a giver, not a taker.
He saw people, their need, in their everyday life, and He sought to make them whole with His love. He healed their pain, fed their hunger, restored their dignity. Jesus loved each person He encountered sincerely.
What would it look like for the church to be a blanket of genuine love like Jesus? It would look like less self promotion on social media and more quiet giving of time in real life. Less spending on personal kingdoms and abundant financial sacrifice for God’s Kingdom. Less worrying about my future, and more planning of how I can make someone else’s future better. I want to be this. I want to the root of everything I do to be real love. I mess up so many times, but this is my desire.
Love must be sincere. Everything we do, sister, must come from a place of deep affection for each other. Because the world is watching us, and they are used to people using each other for personal gain. And we are to love differently than the world. When others look at us, they need to see a true reflection of a beautifully loving God. One who cares deeply for them.
Will we be perfect? No. But as we consciously decide to surrender our relationships, finances, time, and plans to Jesus, I know He will be faithful to rough out our hard edges and soften our hearts to love others well.
So we have to ask some hard questions. How have we loved falsely? How have I cared more about my status, finances, plans than others? How have I been a taker, not a giver. What do I need to drop so I can replace it with sincere love??
Jesus forgive us for when we have been those things and help us to love the way you love.
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Andrea Chatelain’s mission is to meet women in their struggles and love them forward with God’s truth. She’s a Midwest mom of three, faith and family writer, and college English instructor to immigrants and refugees. She believes Jesus transforms lives when His people boldly seek Him. Her writing reflects her love for Jesus and heart for fellow believers.
Find Andrea also at WhollyLoved Ministries and her devotionals with WL on YouVersion Bible App and Crosswalk
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Andrea Chatelain 