Romans 12:9, Love With Sincerity

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Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

The Apostle Paul speaks now of inter-personal relations among believers and with non-Christians that it is to be characterised by sincere love one for another. “Without dissimulation” means sincerely, genuinely, without hypocrisy. It must not be affected, pretentious like a stage actor wearing a mask. The Christian is to do good and hate evil.

Job was such a man. Job 1:1 tells us that Job was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. This was God’s assessment of this man’s character. He loved his family dearly, prayed for each of them daily. He also forthcoming to help the needy with the resources that God has endowed him.

In 1765 John Fawsett was called to pastor a very small congregation at Wainsgate, England. He labored there diligently for 7 years, but his salary was so meager that he and his wife could scarcely obtain the necessities of life. Though the people were poor, they compensated for this lack by their faithfulness and warm fellowship.

Then Dr. Fawcett received a call from a much larger church in London, and after lengthy consideration decided to accept the invitation. As his few possessions were being placed in a wagon for moving, many of his parishioners came to say good-bye. Once again they pleaded with him to reconsider.

Touched by this great outpouring of love, he and his wife began to weep. Finally Mrs. Fawcett exclaimed, “O John, I just can’t bear this. They need us so badly here.” “God has spoken to my heart, too!” he said. “Tell them to unload the wagon! We cannot break these wonderful ties of fellowship.”

This experience inspired Fawsett to write a hymn. “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love! The fellowship of kindred mind is like to that above.” — H.G. Bosch¹

May God be gracious to bless His people with the full of His love that they may be instruments to save a dying world. Amen.

¹Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.