"Let love be without hypocrisy". Rom. 12:9

Where can we see a love that is genuine? A love that has no thought for it's own purpose? A love that is willing to give all; every ounce of affection and strength for another?

We can see the beauty of this kind of love in God's Word.

"Geater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for His friends." John 15:13

This is genuine love.

How can I walk in this love, and live by this love?

I can't.

I need to recognize that it's impossible for me to love others as Christ has, and does. Once I come to this realization, and then, by faith, cry out to Him to help me love Him and others, then this love will begin to find a place in my heart. And it's through the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love, who fills us, and sheds the love of God upon our hearts that this love takes root, and becomes the fruit of our lives, and brings fruit into our lives as well.
A genuine love fills our hearts with joy unspeakable, and yet there will be pain to endure when we love as Christ loved.

Christ suffered in so many ways while here on earth serving His Father.

But it was the Cross where His genuine love is seen in its most pure expression.
The world hates the Cross.
And this hatred has subtley crept into the Church through false disciples and teachers, who diminish the Cross.
They think they have found love with a different expression, and so they push the Cross on the side, for it's a cruel Cross, and something that offends.
And yet in truth, the Cross is the most overwhelming, and heart capturing, expression of genuine love in all the universe, and of all eternity. For it's where our Savior and God died for our sins: Where our Lord and Friend laid down His life for sinners like us, who are also His friends.
So we need to always see Christ crucified before us, and proclaim Christ crucified to a world, (and a church), that has no use for it. And the reason we desire to do this is because we love Him. And that love is because He first loved us, and died for us. What a Friend we do have in our Savior!

"What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer."