Love Authenically

Love authentically. That's how The Voice translation words Romans 12:9 "Love others well, and don't hide behind a mask; love authentically. Despise evil; pursue what is good as if your life depends on it."

So what does it mean? Love authentically? Part of it is in the verse right there- don't hide behind a mask. When you say "I love you" let it be sincere. Don't say "I love you" so that you can get someone to do what you want. Don't say "I love you" but in your head say, "I wish I never had to deal with you again", that's not love. So what is? And how can you love authentically?

Let's start with love. What is love? 1 John 4:7-8 (ESV) says "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on it's own way; it is it not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

We're not talking about a shallow kind of love here. This isn't infatuation with a crush or an 'I love you' because we have a lot in common. This is real love. Agape love. God's love. Perfect love. This type of love cannot be hidden behind a mask. It's real and authentic.

Authentic. That's our second word. The definition is "not false or copied; genuine; real".

So we're told to love authentically. Give real love in a real way. Don't just pretend to love someone, or do things for selfish reasons, really love them! Show them your love. Genuine love given unselfishly and freely.

This verse seems to apply in so many areas of life. How we love our family, our friends, the people we minister to and the ones God put in our path. It's not enough just to be nice to them or even just to take care of them. We're told to love them without hiding behind a mask, give them authentic love. And pursue what is good as if our lives depend on it.