CAN YOU SPOT A CHRISTIAN?
PURE LOVE

If it were possible to put a group of church members into a barrel with a group of unbelievers, shake them up and pour them all out—would it be possible to spot the Christians? I’m afraid that there is little appreciable difference in worldview, actions and attitudes, and sorting one out from the other would be exceedingly difficult. Such a thing ought never be! There should be some distinguishing marks of a genuine Christian. Several of these are suggested in a list of commands given by the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:9-13,

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

As you can tell a leopard by his spots, so there are five “spots” that identify the Christian:

• PURE LOVE
• PERSONAL AFFECTION
• PASSIONATE SERVICE
• PATIENT HOPE
• PRACTICAL HELP
  

Today, let’s focus on PURE LOVE. Paul says, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)

Love can be feigned. Sometimes spouses find their mate has been going through the motions of fidelity, when it is a fraud. Their love has been given to another. Many Old Testament prophets charged the people of God with spiritual adultery—with their lips claiming love for God while their hearts were far from Him. Judas was such a hypocrite. He was numbered with the Apostles. He placed a kiss on the Master’s cheek—but it was the foulest treachery. He abhorred the cross and clung to the coins.

Pure love is without hypocrisy. It is real. It is exclusive. This is the most important commandment of all Jesus said—to love God with all our being. If we love Him, then we will loathe evil. All that is good will become our great obsession, for all that is good is of God, and when we find that good, we will hold onto it tenaciously.

Can you spot this pure love in your life—and would others affirm it?