This week's verses are found in a chapter that is full of instruction on how to live as members of the body of Christ. The first verse of the chapter reads: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." The life of a believer should be very different from the life of an unbeliever. It should be characterized by abandon to God and then, as we see in the next verse, transformation. Our lives should be transformed in every aspect, including the way we love.
"Let love be without dissimulation…"
The Greek word translated as "dissimulation" here is anypokritos. It means "unfeigned, undisguised" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). This is the kind of love that Jesus showed, and is the love that we can have and share through His Spirit. This is the kind of love that our world needs. Now is not the time to disguise our love for God or the people around us.
"…Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good…"
When we as believers have a strong love for God that is without dissimulation, this is what should naturally happen. Proverbs 8:13 says, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil." I believe the more we love God and draw near to Him, the better we will see things the way He does. We will be able to better discern what is good in His eyes and cling to it.
"… Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"
The Greek word for affectioned here (philostorgos) is associated with the love between relatives. As believers we are all bound together as family in Him. We are all children of God, and thus, brothers and sisters in Christ. As such, God wants us to have a "brotherly love." We are to honor one another and put others before ourselves, as a family should.
This week take the time to evaluate the way you are loving God, your spiritual family, and others. Don't disguise your love as a believer--let it be seen and known!
Your sister in Christ,
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