9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. ~ Romans 12:9-10 New Living Translation (NLT)
Kindness is one thing…common courtesy,
good manners. But we’re told again and again
that’s not enough, we need to love.
Not just family, more than just friends,
beyond our acquaintances. We are to love
our enemies, those we find it hardest
to extend even just kindness to.
Even that falls short. We are to love
people we’ll never be nearer to than
twenty-two thousand miles…half a world away.
Hoe much do we love these strangers
and everyone else? The Bible says
as we love ourselves. That standard is low, though,
for people who loath themselves.
A better measure is as God loves us,
beyond measure, despite all flaws,
discounting every sin, every mistake.
We must really love them, holding tightly
to what is good. We must love each person
with genuine affection,
taking delight in honoring each other.
