10 Wise Ways for You to Offer Genuine Love
What is “genuine love?” How do you know?
Paul wrote…
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
And Jesus told His followers…
Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
John 13:34
Jesus’ genuine love was demonstrated throughout His ministry, suffering, and death. But how do we live that out as sinful people in a different day and age?
Through Paul’s letters to the churches in Rome and Corinth, we have a list of 10 wise ways to show people genuine love.
To the Corinthians, he wrote…
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
1 Corinthians 13:4–7
5 Ways to Offer Genuine Love
- Be Patient and Kind
- Be Trusting and Humble
- Be Caring, Kind, and Unselfish
- Be Forgiving
- Be Faithful and Hopeful
And to the Romans…
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Romans 12:10–13
5 More Ways to Offer Genuine Love
- Be Real and Honest
- Be Respectful
- Be Helpful & Hospitable
- Be Patient
- Pray!
I found these notes in the Life Application Bible helpful…
“God calls us to real and genuine love that goes far beyond [pretending to be polite]. Genuine love requires concentration and effort. It means helping others become better people. It demands giving of our time, money, and personal involvement.”
Loving like Jesus is giving of ourselves without worrying about receiving.
It’s…
- Speaking the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)
- Sharing each other’s burdens. (Galatians 6:2)
- Encouraging each other and building each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
- Clothing ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12)
- Forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven us. (Ephesians 4:32)
- Devoting ourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. (Colossians 4:2)
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to Faithfully Offer Genuine Love to All
Father God, You are genuine love! You graciously sent Jesus to show us the length, width, depth, and height of Your love. When something is genuine, it is factual, authentic, and undeniable. You have declared Your love since the beginning of time. And You’ve shown it in the lives of Your people throughout countless generations.
Jesus said that loving You and our neighbors is the greatest of all Commandments. Paul wrote that nothing can separate us from Your love. He shared that our love must be authentic and real, and that real love is shown as we meet each others needs with kindness and truth.
He expressed the importance of being helpful and forgiving. Through Your Spirit, please give me all I need to love this way. Make me patient, respectful, and caring. And give me a heart full of love that prays.
You also inspired Paul to write, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20) Please work within me and help me love others with authentic, genuine love, just like Jesus. In whose name I pray. Amen.
If you watch any shows that provide opportunities for individuals to “find” love, you’ve probably noticed that love is promoted as attraction and feelings.
But the love God wants for us is unselfish and nurturing. It listens to understand and helps to lift and encourage. Love is to be an action as well as emotion. And genuine love gives without expecting anything in return.
Max Lucado wrote…
“True love is a reflection of God’s grace.” ~ Max Lucado
And Ann Graham Lotz reminds us that loving others as God desires happens when we love Him and invite Him to love others through us…
“The first secret to loving others is to immerse yourself in a love relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – and abide there.” ~ Anne Graham Lotz
May God bless you and fill your life with His genuine love.
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May we all reflect the genuine love of Jesus to those we meet and with whom we interact. Blessings, Deb!
Amen, Martha! Blessings and Hugs!
Thanks so much so to speak i have always thought to dislike a person entirely because of his attitude but i learn a new way today , And sometimes its difficult because the act unfaithfulness is carried on over and over again hurting your feeling so i ask that you pray for me to really have a heart to forgive
I’m so glad this encouraged you, Sita. Forgiving someone can be hard. Thankfully, if it is something the Lord has asked us to do, I believe He will give us the humility and strength we need to do it. Praying for you! God bless you!