Pretenders - Part 1

Yesterday morning on the Creek Living Water blog, Kim shared these verses:

"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." (Romans 12:9-10)

Just meditate on those two verses a few minutes . . .

That word 'pretend' is pretty convicting. It's where we get the words, pretender and pretentious. It's where the veneer meets the flesh. How many times do I have hateful or neglectful or just no thoughts about the person in front of me, while putting on the show with my words. Or, practice the cursory 'Thank you' while thinking unholy things.
How can I be a pretender so much of the time?

There are TWO things. Two stinkin' things that Jesus said were really, really important: Loving God and Loving Others.

Why do we struggle so?

And then the word that really kills me is 'really.' 'REALLY love them.'

Who have you REALLY loved today? Not for your gain, or pleasure. But just in doing what is good. How could that change you? Them?

More later . . .