Love Must Be Genuine

[Sue J Love]

Love must be sincere, honest, truthful, and genuine, as opposed to being pretentious, disingenuous, fake or phony. True love, thus, speaks the truth in love and does not use false flattery, nor does it willfully deceive. In fact, it hates what is evil, mainly because of how evil destroys lives, homes, families, communities, church congregations and nations. Instead, it binds itself to what is good – wholesome, right, just, honest, pure and unadulterated.

It demonstrates respect for people, and it gives of oneself to meet the legitimate needs of others, self-sacrificially. It does good to its persecutors, and does not practice retaliation. It is not conceited. It seeks to do what is right by people. It works at trying to bring about reconciliation where an offense or discord has taken place, and it makes the effort to bring about peaceful solutions, where possible, to difficult situations.

True love is always hopeful. It prays for wisdom, understanding, guidance and direction. It seeks the good of others. It is continuous, persevering, and diligent in its zeal for the Lord and for his service. And, it is not overcome by evil, but it overcomes evil with good.

Love Must be Genuine / An Original Work
October 22, 2013 / Based off Romans 12:9-21

Love must be genuine.
Hate what’s evil; cling to good.
Love each other with affection.
Show respect for ev’ryone.
Never lack in your zeal.
Serve the Lord with diligence.

Rejoice in steadfast hope.
In affliction, patient be.
Keep on praying; share with others.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute.
Feel with others sympathy.

Be not filled with conceit.
Daily sit at Jesus’ feet.
Live in harmony with others.
Live at peace with ev’ryone.
Repay not to someone
With the evil he begot.

Do not take your revenge;
Leave it to the wrath of God.
If your enemy is thirsty,
Give to him something to drink.
Do what’s right for mankind.
Evil: overcome with good.

 

[RJ]

Love must be sincere, honest, truthful, and genuine, as opposed to being pretentious, disingenuous, fake or phony. True love, thus, speaks the truth in love and does not use false flattery, nor does it willfully deceive. In fact, it hates what is evil, mainly because of how evil destroys lives, homes, families, communities, church congregations and nations. Instead, it binds itself to what is good – wholesome, right, just, honest, pure and unadulterated.

It demonstrates respect for people, and it gives of oneself to meet the legitimate needs of others, self-sacrificially. It does good to its persecutors, and does not practice retaliation. It is not conceited. It seeks to do what is right by people. It works at trying to bring about reconciliation where an offense or discord has taken place, and it makes the effort to bring about peaceful solutions, where possible, to difficult situations.

True love is always hopeful. It prays for wisdom, understanding, guidance and direction. It seeks the good of others. It is continuous, persevering, and diligent in its zeal for the Lord and for his service. And, it is not overcome by evil, but it overcomes evil with good.

Love Must be Genuine / An Original Work
October 22, 2013 / Based off Romans 12:9-21

Love must be genuine.
Hate what’s evil; cling to good.
Love each other with affection.
Show respect for ev’ryone.
Never lack in your zeal.
Serve the Lord with diligence.

Rejoice in steadfast hope.
In affliction, patient be.
Keep on praying; share with others.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute.
Feel with others sympathy.

Be not filled with conceit.
Daily sit at Jesus’ feet.
Live in harmony with others.
Live at peace with ev’ryone.
Repay not to someone
With the evil he begot.

Do not take your revenge;
Leave it to the wrath of God.
If your enemy is thirsty,
Give to him something to drink.
Do what’s right for mankind.
Evil: overcome with good.

True love is

I am surprised you didn't quote what the Bible's states as true love.
I agree with what you say may also be true, but true love is based on the perfect love of the one who is in us and the Bible says this:
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never fails

 

[Sue J Love]

I am surprised you didn't quote what the Bible's states as true love.
I agree with what you say may also be true, but true love is based on the perfect love of the one who is in us and the Bible says this:
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never fails

RJ, the song is based off Romans 12:9-21. Are you saying that this passage does not state what is true love? Are you saying that this passage in Romans MAY be true, meaning it may not be true?

RJ, the Lord Jesus gave me 163 songs to write between 2011 and 2014. He gave me the tunes and the words to every one of them. Many of them he just poured the words into my mind. Others he led me to a passage of scripture, or to several scriptures, and there he directed me to the words he had to go with those tunes (the tunes came first, with few exceptions). This song is based off the Romans passage. It is not a complete study on the subject of love from the Bible. If you feel the words of the song are in error, then please state your specific areas of concern. I would suggest you read the Romans passage, and that you compare it to the song, and if you find the song not true to the passage of scripture, then let me know what you find fault with, but again, I believe you are straining at a gnat, and that you are missing the messages in these songs, which were given me from God, and are founded in his word, and are for the encouragement, strengthening and edification of the body of Christ.

 

[RJ]

My concern with and continues to be with you bold statements as truth.

RJ, the song is based off Romans 12:9-21. Are you saying that this passage does not state what is true love? Are you saying that this passage in Romans MAY be true, meaning it may not be true?

No, how can I say that a scripture is not good and from God. But, I can and do say you should not speak truth out of context, regardless whether YOU think God talks to you so precisely when, you turn around and make such a bold statements. What...are you some modern day Prophet, where God personally tells you things to tell us?
You have this habit of taking things out of context. 1 Cor 13: 4-8 is also from Paul and more contextually true love, God's love, Agape! Paul through out scripture stresses love, but here in 1 Cor, he describes perfect love. I would say that is more true love than not!

 

[RJ]

It is not a complete study on the subject of love from the Bible.

I would suggest you read the Romans passage, and that you compare it to the song, and if you find the song not true to the passage of scripture, then let me know what you find fault with,

I have no complaint with the song and it supporting the scripture given, but I do in your interpretation. You do this often and it is not right? I suggest you just stick with the song and it's reflecting the scripture and stop adding your own the interpretation. You tell us over and over again the Lord is telling you all of this and when you give an interpretation, it sounds as if he is giving you the interpretation as well.

 

[Sue J Love]

I have no complaint with the song and it supporting the scripture given, but I do in your interpretation. You do this often and it is not right? I suggest you just stick with the song and it's reflecting the scripture and stop adding your own the interpretation. You tell us over and over again the Lord is telling you all of this and when you give an interpretation, it sounds as if he is giving you the interpretation as well.

The Context of Romans 12

We are to present ourselves to God as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing (acceptable) to him, which is our spiritual worship of him. We are not to be conformed to the ways of this sinful world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (by the Spirit), so that we may prove what is God’s good, acceptable and perfect will.

We should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, but we are to think with sober judgment, “each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” For we are all members of one body, and we do not all have the same function. We have gifts that differ from one another, according to the grace given us, and we are each to use these gifts given to us by the Spirit, whether they be prophecy, service, teaching, exhorting, contributing, generosity, leading, and mercy, as well as others listed in other Bible passages.

Ok, so let me stop here and say this. I am not doing anything any differently from what we have all been called to do. I make no claims to having some superior status to anyone else within the body of Christ. I am exercising the spiritual gifts God has given to me and am doing the assignment (part) he has given me to do within the body of Christ. That does not make me any better than anyone else, but I am just as necessary as all the other parts. The gifts are spiritual gifts, meaning they are of the Spirit. The assignment is a spiritual assignment. We all have different gifts and assignments, and I am just doing my part, and nothing more. We are all instructed to speak the truth in love, one to the other, and we are to work together, with each part doing its work, so that the body of Christ may grow up into Christ and become mature and so we build one another up in the love of Christ.

We are also to be filled with the Spirit, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). Spiritual songs means they are of the Spirit. They are given to us by the Spirit, and we are to speak them to one another within the body of Christ, “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus” (v. 20). And, that is what I am doing. The songs all have their foundation in scripture as is practically applied to our lives today. They are for the encouragement, strengthening and edification of the body of Christ.

Now, back to Romans 12. After he talks about us as living sacrifices, and us as parts of the body not all having the same function, and being not all gifted in the same way, he moves to the subject of love. The first thing he says is, Let (agape) love be sincere (genuine, without hypocrisy, not phony, unfeigned, true, honest and free from hidden agendas) – See: Strong's Greek: 505. ἀνυπόκριτος (anupokritos) -- unhypocritical, unfeigned. So, he is indeed talking about agape (true) love. And, then he goes on to describe what that love should look like. So, I don’t know why you think this is out of context. Out of context of what?

Do you feel this somehow contradicts 1 Corinthians 13? The Lord Jesus also gave me a song based off 1 Corinthians 13 (Love Never Fails | Run With It), but this one was based off Romans 12, and I don’t see anything in the introduction which is out of context of Romans 12. The introductions often go into more detail than a song can go into, and they help set the stage for what the song is about. I looked up “agape” and “genuine” in the Greek-English, and so some of that description in the introduction was based off what I learned there. Also, some of the application of the passage to our lives is contained within the introductions. So, I am failing to see what your issue is. Paul is talking about agape love in Romans 12, and the song and introduction are about what is being taught in this passage in Romans 12. I am exercising the gifts God has given to me, and I am doing the part in the body he has assigned to me, which is different from your part, but not less, and not greater.

So, again, what is your issue? What, in the introduction, do you believe is out of context of Romans 12? Or, out of context of agape love? Genuine love is true love, and the word is agape, so it is agape love.

 

[RJ]

The Lord Jesus also gave me a song based off 1 Corinthians 13 (Love Never Fails | Run With It), but this one was based off Romans 12,

So you open most of your posts with this statement, that the Lord gave you a song. Would you mind expounding on how this happens? Is it during prayer, a dream....how exactly does he talk to you and tell you what song to play?

 

[Sue J Love]

So you open most of your posts with this statement, that the Lord gave you a song. Would you mind expounding on how this happens? Is it during prayer, a dream....how exactly does he talk to you and tell you what song to play?

Well, actually you are speaking here of two different situations:

1) When I said he gave me a song based off 1 Corinthians 13, I mean he literally gave me the song to write, i.e. he put the tune in my head or as I sat down at the keyboard it came to me, and so I wrote what I heard. I believe he even directed me as I wrote the other parts to go with the melody. Then, I would sit down before him in prayer with the written music before me and I would ask him if he had words to go with the music. And, he would either just pour the lyrics into my mind, or else he would lead me to scripture, and then he would guide me to just the right words to go with that tune, and they always fit. I know one time I woke in the morning and I could hear a tune playing in my head I didn't know, and I even heard the first few words, and so I quickly got up and wrote down what I was hearing. It was a Jewish sounding tune. The song was "Laodicea." And, the music fit the words perfectly. I usually had no idea what words were going to go with the tune which I had sitting before me on paper. Sometimes he had me write about things I was going through personally, and he would give me words of comfort, encouragement, healing and hope. These songs have been a blessing in my life. The Lord often uses them to speak words of comfort and healing or even words of counsel and direction to my heart. I know they come from him, so I give him all the praise and glory.

2) I open most of my posts (devotionals) with the statement, "The Lord Jesus put in mind the song..." Sometimes, or most usually lately, they are the songs he has given me to write (between 2011 and 2014). Sometimes they are hymns, and sometimes they are spiritual songs written by others. The problem with using songs written by others is that most of them are copyrighted and I can only post a certain percentage of the song, so it limits how much of the message of the song I can actually post. I believe that may have been one of the reasons he gave me songs to write, because I can post 100% of those lyrics.

Ok, so how does this work exactly? Well, I wake up most every morning with a song in my head, even in the middle of the night sometimes. I have my QT with God nearly first thing when I get up in the morning, so the song that is in my head I know goes with where I am reading in scripture for that day. Since he started this with me years ago, maybe as early as 2006, though I am not sure, I can't say how I knew at first that the song was supposed to go with where I was reading in scripture. But, I knew, and it did, and it continued to do so over and over again, nearly 3,000 (+/-) writings later. Even if I couldn't see it, like for the devotion he gave me this morning, as I wrote, it would come together and it would just naturally blend. So many times I would just stand in awe of God for how he puts these things all together and how they always fit so perfectly, even when I have no idea up front how they are going to fit.

Sometimes, like this evening, if I have time when nothing else is happening, he will give me a second devotional. I will all of a sudden be aware of a song playing in my mind, and I can begin to hear the lyrics. I don't always know the titles, though. I don't remember titles well, so I have to do a search on my computer for the lyrics I hear and then I can find the song. The songs also help me know what specific direction the Lord wants me to take with a passage, sometimes, for many different lessons can be taught from the same passage, much like pastors will preach more than one sermon from the same passage of scripture, because there is so much meat we can't always get it all one time through.

A lot of this just has to do with being in tune to the Spirit's voice within me after many years of listening and obeying, kind of like when you get to know someone. Jesus said his sheep listen to him and they follow him. They know his voice. We get to know people we live with and with whom we are intimate, especially if we are good listeners, and we pay attention to what they are saying and doing. And, the same should be true of our relationship with the Lord. Also, it helps to not have my mind cluttered with junk from the world, and so my mind is free to hear from the Spirit, and to respond to his voice.

 

[RJ]

Well, actually you are speaking here of two different situations:

1) When I said he gave me a song based off 1 Corinthians 13, I mean he literally gave me the song to write, i.e. he put the tune in my head or as I sat down at the keyboard it came to me, and so I wrote what I heard. I believe he even directed me as I wrote the other parts to go with the melody. Then, I would sit down before him in prayer with the written music before me and I would ask him if he had words to go with the music. And, he would either just pour the lyrics into my mind, or else he would lead me to scripture, and then he would guide me to just the right words to go with that tune, and they always fit. I know one time I woke in the morning and I could hear a tune playing in my head I didn't know, and I even heard the first few words, and so I quickly got up and wrote down what I was hearing. It was a Jewish sounding tune. The song was "Laodicea." And, the music fit the words perfectly. I usually had no idea what words were going to go with the tune which I had sitting before me on paper. Sometimes he had me write about things I was going through personally, and he would give me words of comfort, encouragement, healing and hope. These songs have been a blessing in my life. The Lord often uses them to speak words of comfort and healing or even words of counsel and direction to my heart. I know they come from him, so I give him all the praise and glory.


2) I open most of my posts (devotionals) with the statement, "The Lord Jesus put in mind the song..." Sometimes, or most usually lately, they are the songs he has given me to write (between 2011 and 2014). Sometimes they are hymns, and sometimes they are spiritual songs written by others. The problem with using songs written by others is that most of them are copyrighted and I can only post a certain percentage of the song, so it limits how much of the message of the song I can actually post. I believe that may have been one of the reasons he gave me songs to write, because I can post 100% of those lyrics.

Ok, so how does this work exactly? Well, I wake up most every morning with a song in my head, even in the middle of the night sometimes. I have my QT with God nearly first thing when I get up in the morning, so the song that is in my head I know goes with where I am reading in scripture for that day. Since he started this with me years ago, maybe as early as 2006, though I am not sure, I can't say how I knew at first that the song was supposed to go with where I was reading in scripture. But, I knew, and it did, and it continued to do so over and over again, nearly 3,000 (+/-) writings later. Even if I couldn't see it, like for the devotion he gave me this morning, as I wrote, it would come together and it would just naturally blend. So many times I would just stand in awe of God for how he puts these things all together and how they always fit so perfectly, even when I have no idea up front how they are going to fit.

Sometimes, like this evening, if I have time when nothing else is happening, he will give me a second devotional. I will all of a sudden be aware of a song playing in my mind, and I can begin to hear the lyrics. I don't always know the titles, though. I don't remember titles well, so I have to do a search on my computer for the lyrics I hear and then I can find the song. The songs also help me know what specific direction the Lord wants me to take with a passage, sometimes, for many different lessons can be taught from the same passage, much like pastors will preach more than one sermon from the same passage of scripture, because there is so much meat we can't always get it all one time through.

A lot of this just has to do with being in tune to the Spirit's voice within me after many years of listening and obeying, kind of like when you get to know someone. Jesus said his sheep listen to him and they follow him. They know his voice. We get to know people we live with and with whom we are intimate, especially if we are good listeners, and we pay attention to what they are saying and doing. And, the same should be true of our relationship with the Lord. Also, it helps to not have my mind cluttered with junk from the world, and so my mind is free to hear from the Spirit, and to respond to his voice.

I understand now, very interesting!

 

[Sue J Love]

I understand now, very interesting!

Thank you for asking. Have a blessed day in Jesus!

 

[RJ]

Thank you for asking. Have a blessed day in Jesus!

You too! You have more holiness than anyone I have ever seen!

 

[Sue J Love]

You too! You have more holiness than anyone I have ever seen!

All glory to God. Great things HE has done. I know this all too well. I am so thankful for his grace to me, and for how he delivered me out of bondage to sin, and for how he has given me life in him. I am humbled that he would choose me. I am so undeserving of his love and grace, as we all are. I am not perfect, but I am forgiven, and my heart's desire is that I would live to please my Lord in all that I do and say. I can truly say that the best life ever is a life sold out to Jesus Christ and fully committed to him to walking in his ways. I am at peace.

 

[Sue J Love]

RJ, The Lord Jesus just reminded me of this song. It basically explains why I do what I do.

3/19/12: I was talking to the Lord about stuff going on in my life. I had just written out my devotions from the book of Amos, chapters 1-2. I was thinking about how Amos was just a shepherd when God called him to be a prophet and to give out his messages. I thought about all the prophets from the Old and New Testaments who had to give out difficult messages, confronting sin, calling for repentance, and often warning of judgment. I thought about the calling of God on my life to share what he teaches me each day from his word, in all practicality in applying Biblical truth to today’s world and church, and to my own personal life, too.

I talked with the Lord about all of this, and how I sometimes weary of giving out such difficult and unpopular messages, and wish I could share happier messages more often. I often identify with Jeremiah who sometimes lamented over the weight of the messages and the response of the people to the messages. Yet, as I prayed through all of this, I told the Lord, “Yet, I can do no less than obey you in whatever you have called me to do, say and be.” And, from that, he gave me the words to this song, “No Less.”

No Less / An Original Work / March 19, 2012

I can do no less than praise You,
Lord, for all You’ve done for me.
You died for my sins to save me,
So I would be set free.
I adore You! Lord, I praise You!
Jesus, Savior, King of kings!
You provided my redemption.
Your grace has pardoned me.

I can do no less than serve You.
Lord, Your witness I would be,
Telling others of Your love,
And why You died on that tree.
Tell of how You gave of Your life,
So from sin we’d be set free,
So we could worship You forever,
And live eternally.

I can do no less than love You,
Lord, for You have first loved me.
You gave of Your life so willing,
Because You cared for me.
Turn from my sin! Obey freely!
Live for You each passing day.
Read Your word, and follow Your lead,
Lord, as I humbly pray.

 

[RJ]

I often identify with Jeremiah

Yes you remind me a lot of Jeremiah....you're a true prophet!!!

 

[Sue J Love]

Yes you remind me a lot of Jeremiah....you're a true prophet!!!

I am a clay vessel in the Potter's hands; a servant of the Lord; called and chosen of God to be and to do what he has chosen for me to be and to do even before he created the world (Eph. 1:4). All the saints of God have been chosen and called. We just have different gifts and assignments. That's all.

 

[RJ]

I am a clay vessel in the Potter's hands; a servant of the Lord; called and chosen of God to be and to do what he has chosen for me to be and to do even before he created the world (Eph. 1:4). All the saints of God have been chosen and called. We just have different gifts and assignments. That's all.

But if you stay here long enough, we will have hundreds of songs and you may even be a legend!

 

[Sue J Love]

But if you stay here long enough, we will have hundreds of songs and you may even be a legend!

Not looking to be a legend. Thanks.

 

[RJ]

Not looking to be a legend. Thanks.

Prophets end up that way sometime!

 

[Sue J Love]

Prophets end up that way sometime!

Not claiming to be a prophet, just a servant of the Lord just like we all are supposed to be, just using my gifts he gave me, and doing my job he assigned me.

 

[RJ]

Not claiming to be a prophet, just a servant of the Lord just like we all are supposed to be, just using my gifts he gave me, and doing my job he assigned me.

Well, your "assignment" ,as you put it , seems to be more than most!