Romans 12:9 begins with “Let love be genuine”. I’ve been thinking about that. I first was thinking about “genuine” love. For the better part of my life, I had no idea what that was. I knew I loved my son unconditionally; I knew I had had an aunt who loved me unconditionally, but I had conditions on every other relationship. I also thought all others had put conditions on me. Having grown up in a family where love was conditional, there was no other way for me to think.
Here, Paul asks us to let our love be geniune. Even though I was born again in 1975, I didn’t understand genuine love until much later. It was not until I was able to accept myself as flawed and accept others the same way, to let my guard down and allow others to see me, warts and all, that I was able to begin to see what genuine love is.
As it states in 1 Corinthians 13, love is not a feeling, it is an action, a verb. To have genuine love is to truly accept, to be tolerant and kind, to see others as Christ sees them and accept them, flaws and all. Love is caring enough to stay true to yourself and allow others to be themselves, without conditions.
The key word in this scripture to me is “let”. In order to “let” my love be genuine, I must be genuine. My motives must be pure, without manipulation, intimidation, judgment, or prejudice. It is not my job to “fix” anyone, to change anyone, to please anyone. God as asked me to let myself have genuine love for them.
juliesramblings 