Sincere Love

Sincere Love
by Sherri Bergmann

Valentine’s Day. It’s a day the happy couples look forward to.

But it’s also a day some couples dread because they think the grass may be greener on the other side of the fence. It’s a day many singles feel depressed because it reminds them they don’t have someone in their life to share their love with.

Let that sink in for a moment. And realize the lies. Satan wants us to believe we aren’t worthy enough to have a relationship, and that we can’t have anyone special to share our life with. For those who are in a dating or marriage relationship, Satan wants us to feel like it isn’t good enough and that there’s no fix. Not today Satan.

Let’s look a little deeper into something that rings true for all of us no matter what our relationship status is. With this perspective shift, we can let today serve as a reminder to focus on how to sincerely love, nurture, and protect all the relationships in our lives.

1. CHRIST, OUR FIRST LOVE, MAKES US WORTHY.

The truth is that as a believer, we have our first love, Christ. We love Him because He first loved us. He’s always there for us, always provides for us, and always intercedes for us. He makes us worthy of His love. He came from pristine Heaven to walk with us on this dusty earth. In true love, He died for us, so we could share Him and His spirit of love with others today.

When we are declared worthy for Him, then we are worthy for others. Relationships will grow and flourish when Christ’s love is at the center. When you grow closer to Christ, your relationship with others will grow stronger. His living water not only quenches our thirst, it keeps the grass green on our side of the fence.

2. ‘CHRIST FIRST’ IS THE SECRET SAUCE.

Tending to a relationship is like tending to a garden. Jesus says He is the vine and we are the branches. When we are connected to the vine, we will flourish, and our relationships that God has put in our lives will flourish. With the wisdom of Christ, we pull out the weeds that choke it. He will lead us to fertilize with love, tenderness, and care, and bring sunshine of laughter, life and love.

The moment we walk away from Christ, and stop caring for the relationship, is the moment the garden stops being watered; the flowers wither, weeds grow, and the grass dries up. Our relationship suffers, and we suffer as we walk on a ground of thorns and weeds. This is true for ALL relationships, not just romantic relationships. Neglect, nonchalance, and abandonment sets up a distance that eventually dissolves any relationship.

We all have something in common. We have the best thing going for us: Christ and sharing sincere love with others.  Love God first, love others.

3. SINCERE LOVE COMES FROM CHRIST.

Paul says that our love towards each other should not be superficial, but sincere. We should genuinely desire God’s best for others.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:9–10

Sincere love isn’t interested in what someone can give us, and it doesn’t cater to those who can offer us something. Instead, sincere love is demonstrated when you put the other first, and their desires before your own. It is sacrificial love, or love beyond self.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

This isn’t natural for us, but we are able to sincerely love through Christ when we are connected to Him. When we love selflessly, we are being obedient to God, and through obedience we show we are loving Him as we love others.

How do you know if you’re loving sincerely?

You’re being generous with your time, your skills and talents, your possessions, and your money. God loves a cheerful giver and rewards those who give sincerely (2 Corinthians 9:7). It’s an investment, it adds value. It doesn’t take away, it compounds. That is the picture of sincere love that comes from Christ.

With your spouse… it works.
With your children… it works.
With your friends… it works.
With your coworkers… it works.

Your relationship with God and your relationships with others — ALL relationships — will continue to flourish and yield more fruit as you serve God first, and each other, with sincere love.

Satan tears apart. Christ heals.
Satan tells us to hurt someone else. Christ says to love one another.
Satan tells us to take revenge. Christ says love your enemies.
Satan spurs us to do evil deeds. Christ spurs us to do good.
Satan enslaves us. Christ frees us.
Satan destroys our lives. Christ saves lives.

When we put Christ at the center of our lives, He will take care of our needs and our relationships. His sincere love will permeate and satisfy our hearts, and that love overflows into our relationships. We will feel fulfilled when we are full of His love.

Valentine’s Day comes once a year, but loving others is a year-round deal.

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” 1 Peter 1:22