Thinking

I picked a Bible passage for 2011.
Romans 12:9-13.

But for a long time,
I wasn't able to get past
the first sentence of verse nine.
Love must be sincere.

Sincere means earnest; genuine; real.

Love must be earnest; genuine; real.

At first I was thinking only about my earthly relationships.
With Ryan.
With my kids.
With my extended family.
(on both sides)
With my friends.

I was saying over and over to myself:
Love must be sincere.
Getting asked to do something I really didn't want to do:
Love must be sincere.
Wiping up spilled milk for the umpteenth time:
Love must be sincere.
Cooking supper for the family:
Love must be sincere.
The list could go on.
And on.
And on.

Grit my teeth and say it:
Love must be sincere.
Which really doesn't make it so sincere, huh?

But then, God said:
What about Me?
Is your love for Me sincere?

Oh, dear.

The rest of verse nine:
Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good.

The best way to cling to good:
Love God sincerely.
Love God earnestly.
Love God genuinely.
Really love God.

Sincere love for God =
Sincere love for others.