Love is SINCERITY...

"You were amazing!" "WOW! You're flawless." "You look great." "You make me so happy." "I love you." Have you ever heard these types of words directed toward you? And when you heard them, you probably accepted and were flattered by the compliment or accolades being showered on you. Or maybe you questioned the motive and sincerity behind the words. Unfortunately, we live in a world where people have become quite comfortable saying or doing things insincerely without blinking an eye. But why? Why say things you don't mean? To save face or make someone else believe that you care? Or to portray yourself in a light that is not really true? Hmmmm....

The word sincere is defined: free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings; wholehearted, genuine, real, straight forward, direct, honest, unhypocritical

1 Peter 1:22 says: Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently. This scripture is basically instructing us to love one another with our sincerity, whole heartedly and genuinely. This means that we should be honest with one another (speaking the truth in love, of course) and not just that, but be sure to be prayerful and remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance. There may be many things that we observe and may want to address. But we need to make sure we are speaking at the right time, with the right words and correct motive.

Now of course, we can't control someone else's sincerity. But we can make sure that everything we do and say comes from a pure heart. I would challenge us all to begin to check ourselves in everything we do and say; to check our motives and our level of honesty with ourselves and one another.

I'll revisit 1 John 3:18. "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." It does no good to spout lofty words and compliments upon someone if they are not meant with sincerity and purity of heart. Our love, true love, is not displayed in what we say but in the things that we do and, most importantly, the honesty and purity behind every action and every word.

Love is an action word. And that action must be initiated from the heart. God sees the heart. So make sure He sees your purity inside and out.

Continue to grow in it...
LOVE...