“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Romans 12:9-10.

In the early 1980’s a popular secular group sung a song entitled “The Backstabbers;” the lyrics went something like…smiling faces tell lies…the backstabbers, smiling in your faces, all the time they want to take your place-it was all about a great pretense to be show comradery, concern, and brotherly love… but an enemy in disguise.

Jesus gave a strict warning or “woe” to the scribes and Pharisees- their actions and practices deceived many; but Jesus saw right into their hearts…the outer appearance may have seemed religious and pious…but they were enemies to the gospel of Christ, and therefore to the salvation of the souls of men. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”

My friends, it is bad enough to keep oneself from the Lord… but worse to keep others from him as well; the scribes and Pharisees were indeed the great pretenders of that day… are you able to discern the pretenders of our day-scriptures shows us the way; 1 Corinthians 13 begins with these words: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1.

Jesus sees the intent of every heart; He is calling for us to love, not deceive. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” John 13:34.

Love is not pretentious and seeks to do no harm-have you taken a real good look at the man in your mirror and searched your own heart for the things you say and do to and for others-what’s your motive? Romans 12:9-10 admonishes us how to love one another “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”

If you haven’t had a heart checkup lately…ask God to shine the spotlight on your love life for your fellowman…pretending is easy to do…but true love is shown in action: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

May God help our witness in love to be authentic for we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ one day!

Blessings and peace for a wonderful day in the Lord.