Love in Action

Paul fills these verses with short, practical commands. Let love be genuine, hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. Love one another with warm affection, outdo one another in showing honor, be patient in trouble, and be constant in prayer. Then it becomes very concrete: share with the needy and practice hospitality. Love here is not a mood but a set of verbs, and most of them are done for people who are close at hand. Notice the word genuine, which means without a mask. We can do the actions and still hold contempt inside, and Paul wants both hearts and hands to match. Today, choose one of these commands and make it visible. Pay someone a sincere compliment, open your home or table to a guest, or pray persistently for a person in trouble.