Let Love be Genuine

That a challenge this scripture is for me! The first sentence seems realistic enough — “Let love be genuine.” The importance of loving one another is inherent in both the Old and New Testa- ments. How beautifully love is explained — not just a feeling, but a way of looking at life, a way of behaving, a way of interacting with others, a way of being morally centered in goodness.

Although I have probably done each of these things at least once in my life, I do not behave with genuine love all of the time. I act in ways that cause pain to others.

There is a tension we all feel in our struggles between good, evil and apathy. We do mess up — miss the mark — sin — separate ourselves from God. Our joy is that this struggle, which all humans face, is different for us because of the event which defines our lives as Christians.

God sent His son Jesus to experience the pain of the human condition. Jesus was an example of obedience, yielding his will to God even unto death. Out of genuine love for us, Jesus took the burdens of our sin on himself and willingly died on the cross and rose from the dead.

Although there are consequences for our sin, we are a forgiven people. God does not want us to live in fear and guilt, but in love and abundance. We acknowledge our sin; we ask for the forgiveness that has already been given. We pray that our hearts become filled with more love each and every day through the Holy Spirit, and that we turn that love into action by the way we see and treat others — more and more genuine love. The more we understand love, feel love and live in love, the more we are able to extend it to others.

During this time of Lent, we focus on giving because of the supreme gift that God gave us out of his love and compassion. We celebrate the wonderful plans that God has for us to grow spiritually, behaving more and more with genuine love. We seek Him and His will for us through prayer, study and service. Jesus died for us to remove the barrier of sin. God’s outstretched hands are always reaching for us. We are a forgiven people. Each of us is a beloved child of God. Rejoice and be glad.

— Carole Yoho