by: Plow & Crown (Matthew Blatchley)
matt@plowandcrown.com
Romans 12:9 (ESV)
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
The Word
God calls us to a love that is genuine, sincere, and rooted in truth. Romans 12:9 reminds us that Christian love is more than kind words, pleasant appearances, or expressions of affection when it is convenient. Genuine love comes from a heart that desires what is good for others and seeks to honor God in every relationship. Paul connects sincere love with two clear commands: hate what is evil and hold fast to what is good. Biblical love does not ignore sin, excuse wrongdoing, or compromise truth to keep everyone happy. Instead, it seeks the spiritual good of others while remaining faithful to God's Word. As followers of Christ, we are called to love people sincerely, reject what dishonors God, and remain firmly committed to what is right. Our love should be evident not only in what we say, but also in the choices we make, the way we treat others, and the truth we are willing to uphold.
Behind the Passage
The Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Romans to explain the gospel and its implications for the lives of believers. In Romans 12, he shifts from explaining the mercies of God to describing the practical transformation that should characterize those who belong to Christ. He urges believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices and to live with humility as members of one body.
The wording of Romans 12:9 carries particular significance. Paul's command, “Let love be genuine,” calls Christians to reject hypocrisy and demonstrate love that is authentic. The original Greek word translated as genuine conveys the idea of something without pretense or false appearance. Paul was not describing a love that merely looks good to others. He was calling believers to cultivate a sincere love that reflects the character of Christ.
The second part of the verse uses strong language. To abhor evil means to regard it with deep moral opposition, while holding fast to what is good means remaining firmly attached to it. These expressions communicate more than passive agreement with God's standards. They describe a deliberate commitment to reject evil and remain devoted to what is good. In the early Christian community, where believers came from different backgrounds and social circumstances, this kind of sincere love was essential for maintaining unity, mutual care, and faithful Christian living.
Understanding the Truth
It is possible to say all the right things while harboring resentment, jealousy, pride, or selfish motives in our hearts. We can appear loving in public while treating others differently in private. Romans 12:9 challenges us to examine the sincerity of our love and ask whether our hearts and actions agree.
Genuine Christian love requires honesty. Sometimes loving someone means offering encouragement and comfort. At other times, it means speaking the truth with gentleness, refusing to participate in wrongdoing, or establishing a necessary boundary. Love does not require us to approve of everything another person does. Rather, it calls us to seek that person's good without abandoning the truth of God's Word.
We must also be careful not to confuse hating evil with hating people. Scripture calls us to oppose what is sinful while remembering that every person needs God's mercy and grace. Christ demonstrated perfect truth and perfect love. He never compromised righteousness, yet He willingly reached out to sinners and offered forgiveness to those who turned to Him.
When we hold fast to what is good, our faith becomes visible in everyday life. We choose integrity when dishonesty would be easier. We practice forgiveness when bitterness seems justified. We encourage others instead of tearing them down, and we remain faithful to God even when doing so costs us something.
The world does not need another display of empty affection. It needs to see the transforming power of Christ through believers whose love is sincere, whose convictions are rooted in Scripture, and whose lives reflect the character of their Savior.
A Moment to Reflect
Consider your relationships today. Are your words and actions consistent with what is in your heart? Do you genuinely desire the good of others, even when they have disappointed you or treated you unfairly?
Ask God to reveal any hypocrisy, bitterness, jealousy, or selfishness that may be interfering with your ability to love sincerely. Consider whether there is someone who needs your encouragement, your forgiveness, your honest counsel, or your faithful prayers.
You do not have to pretend to be perfect to demonstrate genuine love. You need a heart that is willing to be corrected by God and transformed by His grace. Begin today by choosing sincerity over appearances, truth over convenience, and goodness over resentment.
Consider This
Genuine love is not merely saying what makes people feel good. It is faithfully seeking what is good for them while remaining true to God.
Let your love be sincere. Reject what is evil, hold tightly to what is good, and treat others with the same grace and truth that Christ has shown you. You may never know how deeply a sincere act of love will affect another person's life, but you can trust that faithfulness to God is never wasted.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me what genuine love looks like through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Search my heart and reveal anything in me that is insincere, selfish, prideful, or bitter. Forgive me for the times my words have sounded loving while my heart was far from You. Teach me to love others with honesty, humility, patience, and grace. Give me the courage to reject what is evil and the wisdom to hold firmly to what is good. Help me speak truth without cruelty, extend mercy without compromising Your Word, and seek the good of others even when it is difficult. May my life reflect the sincere love of Christ in my family, my friendships, my church, and my daily encounters with others. Let my love be more than words. Let it be a faithful expression of a heart transformed by Your grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.
