Romans 12:9-13: a reflection

9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. 10In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor prefer one another, 11not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, 12rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer, 13contributing to the needs of the saints, and given to hospitality.

As Paul describes the marks of the Christian life, he begins with a word about love that goes to its very sincerity: Let love be without hypocrisy. Love can be pretended, put on for show, a mask over indifference or even ill will; but Paul calls for love that is genuine, without hypocrisy, real rather than pretended. The love he commends is not a performance of affection while the heart is elsewhere, but a sincere love, truly meaning the good of the one loved. Love without hypocrisy is love that is real all the way down, not a show of affection masking a different heart.

Notice what Paul asks of love: that it be without hypocrisy, genuine and sincere. Love can be counterfeited, performed for appearance while the heart does not share it; we can put on a show of affection, say the loving words, while inwardly indifferent or even hostile. But Paul calls for love without hypocrisy, love that is real, sincere, truly meaning what it shows. Genuine love matches the heart to the outward show; it is not a mask, not a performance, but a sincere care for the good of the other. Love without hypocrisy is love that is true through and through, the outward affection matching the inward reality. Paul wants love that is genuine, not pretended.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to a love that is genuine and sincere, not hypocritical or pretended. We can perform love without meaning it, say the loving words while our hearts are indifferent or worse, put on a show of affection that masks a different reality; but Paul calls for love without hypocrisy, sincere and real. Genuine love matches the heart to the show; it truly means the good of the other. Do not perform a love you do not mean, putting on a show of affection that masks a different heart; let your love be genuine, sincere, without hypocrisy. Let your love be genuine and sincere, without hypocrisy, truly meaning the good of the one you love rather than performing an affection you do not feel, as Paul says, let love be without hypocrisy; for God calls us to a love that is real all the way down, matching the heart to the show, not a pretended affection masking a different reality.

Lord, as Paul describes the marks of the Christian life, he begins with a word about love that goes to its very sincerity: let love be without hypocrisy. Love can be pretended, put on for show, a mask over indifference or even ill will; but Paul calls for love that is genuine, without hypocrisy, real rather than pretended. The love he commends is not a performance of affection while the heart is elsewhere, but a sincere love, truly meaning the good of the one loved. Show me what Paul asks of love: that it be without hypocrisy, genuine and sincere. Love can be counterfeited, performed for appearance while the heart does not share it; I can put on a show of affection, say the loving words, while inwardly indifferent or even hostile. But Paul calls for love without hypocrisy, love that is real, sincere, truly meaning what it shows. Genuine love matches the heart to the outward show; it is not a mask, not a performance, but a sincere care for the good of the other. Take that to my heart, for I am called to a love that is genuine and sincere, not hypocritical or pretended. I can perform love without meaning it, say the loving words while my heart is indifferent or worse, put on a show of affection that masks a different reality; but Paul calls for love without hypocrisy. Genuine love matches the heart to the show. Keep me from performing a love I do not mean, putting on a show of affection that masks a different heart; let my love be genuine, sincere, without hypocrisy, Lord, truly meaning the good of the one I love, as Paul says, let love be without hypocrisy.