What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word devotion? Is it love? What do you think when you hear the word honor? Is it love? How about hearing the word sincere? Do you think about love?
As you may have guessed, we are going to discuss all three of these words as they relate to love today. We may not think about all three of these words when we think of love. One or two of them might come to mind.
We all likely think of love being devoted. After all, if love doesn’t include being devoted, it isn’t really love, is it? Loving someone must be more than a fleeting feeling. Otherwise, it isn’t the love God desires nor the love Jesus and the apostles spoke of.
That brings us to sincerity. Sincerity is closely tied to devotion. We might also tie sincerity to honesty. Being sincere in our love means being honest with ourselves, rightly identifying our desires, emotions, and dedication. It we are not sincere; we lie to ourselves and to others.
What about honor? We likely don’t think about honor much when we think of love. Perhaps that is one reason love fails over time. Honor is putting the other before yourself. It is holding the other person in high esteem. It isn’t simply looking at someone with googly eyes or putting them on a pedestal. It does include seeing the good in them, acknowledging they are a child of God, and desiring the best for them.
When we honor someone else, we typically honor their actions. We honor military personnel with awards and medals for actions in combat. We honor first responders for running into a burning building to save someone. We honor our doctors and nurses for risking their lives to tend to someone with a deadly disease.
Our love, if we are to demonstrate the love of Christ, must also honor others. Jesus’ love is sincere, devoted, and honors others. When we include all three of these in our love, we see others and the world from a different viewpoint. We see them as Jesus sees them, rather than through faulty human eyes.
I pray we all love with a love that is sincere and devoted. I pray we honor others with our love. I pray we seek loving people as Jesus loves them. Love with sincerity. Be devoted in love. Honor others with your love. See people as Jesus sees them. Love as Jesus loves.
Romans 12:9-10 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Marty Pressey 