The Apostle Paul is not a syrupy-sweet sort of writer, but he has a lot to say about love. For him, love is active, intentional, gritty, and willful. It is a matter of choice, not feeling. More than any gift of the Spirit or statement of doctrine, it is love that shapes both individual followers of Christ and the communities who worship and bear witness to Christ.

Here in Romans 12 we catch a glimpse of community shaped by real love for Christ and devoted to really loving one another. This sort of community is only possible when our love is genuine: real (not fake); sincere (not motivated by selfish desires); authentic (not only for show);

Love that is genuine gravitates toward the good, and keeps its distance from evil. It is displayed in our enthusiasm for the work we do—and for our commitment to relationships that are mutually beneficial.

Rooted in Christ, genuine love builds community beyond personal preference, status, or affinity. Bound together by genuine love, the church family becomes a true sanctuary when hardships come.

Genuine love shines like a steady beacon of hope in a world of flickering, cheap imitations.