Love Must Be Sincere

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” — Romans 12:9 NIV

Another overlooked virtue that authenticates love is sincerity. Love must be sincere and not with hypocrisy. That means anything wrong must be consciously put aside by every believer in order to walk purposefully in love. That’s why lying is thievery in relationships because it’s the devil’s language since he has no love (John 8:44).

Apostle Paul breaks down how we can express love in sincerity using two sentences in the same Romans 12:9.

Hate what’s evil.
Cling to what’s good.

So this is it. If you must walk in love, you must not flirt with what’s evil. In other words, anything evil, such as lying, hypocrisy, pretension, duping, gossiping, sexual immorality, and all other works of the flesh, must be consciously laid aside. Do you think you can’t do that? Oh, you can do it so well by grace (ref. 1 Peter 2:1-2). And then what? — Cling to what’s good.

Lying is thievery in relationships because it’s the devil’s language since he has no love. [Click To Tweet]

The word “Cling” means “Get attached”, “join,” or “cleave.” So when the Bible says, “… A man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife…” (Genesis 2:24), it implies that whatever evil brings them apart must be laid aside in order to live together in harmony. That’s how powerful love is. It’s not just affectionate and full of great emotions; it’s also constraining.

Friend, if you’re flirting with what’s evil and still think you love people, be honest before God and confess your faults. Sometimes, we must realise that doing good things shouldn’t be because others are watching. It helps us focus on doing what scripture teaches. If the Bible says, “hate what’s evil,” you’ve got to vehemently show red flags against the enemy’s gimmicks in your relationships with people, especially as spouses and brethren in Christ. Hate unforgiveness. Hate lies. Be truthful and selfless because it doesn’t cost to love as God does; it pays. Divine sacrifices of love never get wasted in eternity.

You’re a blessing.

Prayer

Oh God, I declare before that from today, I choose to love in sincerity. I consciously take a stance to hate what’s evil but cling to what’s good, just as Your Word teaches in Romans 12:9. Give me the grace to connect and manage destiny relationships; so that I’ll not lose any. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

Devotional Code: KGD – 2023 – 022