More Than Just a Show: The Power of Authentic Christian Love

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King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Bolevn 

"I beg to know expressly your intention touching the love between us. Necessity compels me to obtain this answer, having been more than a year wounded by the dart of love, and not yet sure whether I shall fail or find a place in your affections".


    Those words, penned by a king to his soon-to-be bride, might lead you to believe they were written from a heart full of deep affection and admiration. However, history reveals a far harsher truth. The author of those romantic words was none other than King Henry VIII, and the recipient was Anne Boleyn. For those who fell asleep in history class this was not a love struck power couple. You see years later, when Queen Anne Boleyn failed to give him a male heir, he accused her of adultery, incest, and treason, which led to her eventual execution. Looks like King Henry VIII got over his "dart of love" This tragic story is a stark reminder of a painful reality: some people who claim to love you may not truly care for you as much as they say they do. 

    In a world where love can often be a performance, a transaction, or a fleeting emotion, the apostle Paul’s words to the church in Rome cut through all the noise with a powerful message. Paul wanted them to have a genuine, heartfelt love for one another—a love that wasn’t a show, but a sincere and authentic expression of their shared faith. He desired for there love for one another to be more than words on a page or an expression you might find in a card. Instead a genuine tangible love that could be seen by the entire world that was watching.

    At the time the church in Rome was made up of a diverse group of people—Gentiles and Jews, Roman citizens and slaves—groups that didn't always get along outside the church walls. They were divided by class and prejudice, and Paul was determined that these divisions would not follow them into the family of God. Paul understood that if these divisions remained in the church it would bring division and hinder the work of God in that community. He wanted the church to be united by a genuine love rooted in their common identity in Christ.

    I want you to Listen to what Paul writes to them:

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Romans 12:9-11, ESV)

This passage gives us a clear picture of what genuine love looks like in action. It's not just a feeling; it’s a choice. It's a deliberate effort to care for others over one self. Paul gives us some practical advice here on what this should look like:

  • Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good: This is a call to actively reject what is harmful, such as gossip, falsehoods, and prejudices against others. Instead of entertaining negativity, we are to hold on to what is good. We should look for the good in others and give them the benefit of the doubt, believing the best about them rather than the worst. This kind of love doesn’t look for fault; it looks for Christ's image. 

  • Love one another with brotherly affection: Our love for fellow believers should be as deep and rich as the love we have for our own family. We are not just acquaintances; we are siblings in Christ. This love should be evident in our actions, not just our words. We are born again into a new family and that should mean more to us than anything this world has to divide us. 

  • Outdo one another in showing honor: Paul challenges us to a different kind of competition. Instead of competing with one another, seeking to win or gain some advantage over other people. Instead we should be vying to see who can give the most compliments, offer the most encouragement, and lift others up the most. This kind of honor is a powerful antidote to pride and jealousy. It seeks to build others up, not to tear them down. Think about what it would be like to be surrounded by people who sought to do this very thing? How encouraging that would be to have people all around us encouraging us, and we doing the same for them! 

  • Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord: This is a call to be active, not apathetic, in our love. Genuine love isn't lazy; it's ready and willing to serve at any moment. It is compassion in momentum. When we genuinely care for and love one another in the faith, we are serving the Lord Himself.

    It’s easy to say we care, but our actions often tell a different story. We might entertain gossip, believe the worst in people, or fail to encourage others. Genuine love is not a performance; it is a profound choice to live out the truth of the Gospel in our daily lives. It's an opportunity to show the world the love that Christ has for them and how that love can unify us in ways the world never can. 

    Ultimately, this love is a reflection of the love that God has shown us. The Gospel tells us that God’s love for us was not based on our perfection or our ability to earn it; it was freely given to us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). When we embrace this truth and receive His forgiveness and grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we are adopted into His family and empowered to love others in the same genuine, selfless way.

Practical Applications:

  1. Run from Negativity: Be mindful of the conversations you engage in. When gossip or negativity about another person arises, choose to "abhor what is evil" and steer the conversation toward something good. Defend the reputation of your brother or sister in Christ, giving them the benefit of the doubt.

  2. Actively Encourage Others: Look for opportunities to "outdo one another in showing honor." Send a text or an email to a fellow believer, praising them for a specific victory or action you've seen them do for the Lord. This small act of encouragement can make a huge difference. It just might have a ripple effect and lead to them doing same for someone else. 

  3. Serve with a Sincere Heart: Don't let your love be "slothful" or done out of mere obligation. Look for ways to serve the people in your church community with a genuine heart, expecting nothing in return. Whether it's helping with a move, bringing a meal to a sick family, or simply lending a listening ear, serving the family of God is an act of worship.

  4. Check Your Heart's Foundation: Before you can show genuine love to others, you must first have received the genuine love of God. If you have not yet responded to the Gospel—the good news that Jesus died for your sins and rose again—you cannot be part of the family of God. If you are not certain of your salvation, this is the most important issue to settle, for only through Christ can we be born into God's family and learn to love with a truly genuine heart. If you desire to talk more about this I encourage you to reach out to me by leaving a comment and I would be glad to help you to become apart of the family of God through Jesus Christ. 

Location: Ashmore, IL 61912, USA

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