Yours sincerely

The apostle Paul is preaching up a storm. He's talking about how to please God, about how we should live in a way that makes everything we do an act of worship. He tells us: 'Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them' (Romans 12:9 NLT). This verse is saying: 'let love be without hypocrisy.' God is deeply unimpressed by hypocrites. He can spot them a galaxy away. The Bible is full of places where he's disapproving of people's outward actions because their hearts are completely the opposite.

In the book of Joel, God says, 'Don't tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead' (Joel 2:13 NLT). He's cross at people who are doing all the right things but not really feeling it. They're covering up how they feel by putting up an impressive-looking front. But it's not real.

Being nice and considerate can make us look good but it's really not what God's after. To quote 1 Corinthians 13:3 NLT, 'If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.' Our love should be for the benefit of others, not for our own personal PR campaign; otherwise it's worthless.



So what now? Has there been a time lately where you've done something nice but you had an ulterior motive? Ask God to give you his genuine - that is, never false or hypocritical - love for people.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Be sincere in your love for others.' Romans 12:9 CEV
— SOULFOOD —

Jer 28-30, Luke 23:50-56, Ps 72:12-20, Pro 9:7-9