12:9
“Let love be genuine”. Love in the Bible is far more than than sentimentalised tosh that tends to be spoken about, and it is more than romantic love. What the world calls love is often nothing of the sort, either being mere sentimentalism, or sexual lust. In the Bible love is a far more concrete thing, always backed up by consistent actions and commitment. This is one of the reasons why sex is for marriage only. Love cannot be built upon sex, sex should be built upon the solid foundation of a firm commitment to each other. And love applies in many other contexts than marriage. Whatever is evil is to be abhorred, utterly detested. Instead we are to hold on to what is good. Sadly our society is doing the exact opposite, holding on to what is evil and detesting what is good.
12:10
We are to love each other with “brotherly affection”, or sisterly affection. And we are to outdo one another in showing honour. So there is affection and there is action. Love seeks the well being of the other, it is not self-centred.
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