Real Love Can't Be Faked

Romans 12:9-21 The Message (MSG)

^9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

^11-13 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

^14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.

^17-19 Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

^20-21 Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

I have been mulling over today’s scripture passage all week.   I have read it from different translations and prayed over it.  Last week I talked to you about trusting God and how I have struggled trusting for most of my life.  I love God and have always desired to serve Him, but I have also struggled with trusting Him with everything.

This week’s passage is a direct reflection of where I still struggle with trusting God.  Our passage for today talks about loving with sincerity, laughing with those who laugh, crying with those who cry, not seeking revenge, serving our enemy, helping those in need and on and on.

Don’t get me wrong it is an AMAZING passage!  I love what Paul is teaching us here, but it is SO hard if you struggle with trusting God.  I’m seeing how important it is to believe and trust that God loves me and will take care of me, in order to live out this passage. 

If we know who we are in Christ, we can let people in and allow them to get CLOSE.  Close enough to SINCERELY laugh and cry with them.  Close enough to be hurt by some.  Close enough to want to bless them when they do hurt us.  When we trust God, we will let people close and not throw judgement around like we know the whole story. 

Do you see why I have been praying about this passage all week?  It is not an easy one, but it is such an important lesson to learn.  I pray that you will be challenged by these words as well.