~ Romans 12:9
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Paul begins this section of Romans with a simple but searching command: “Let love be genuine.” The Greek phrase literally reads, hē agapē anypokritos (“love without hypocrisy”). It describes love that is sincere, pure, and free from pretense. Paul reminds us that true Christian living begins not with performance but with authentic love that flows from the heart of God.
The word agapē speaks of self-giving love. The kind that seeks the good of others, not for personal gain, but because it mirrors God’s nature. This kind of love is not sentimental; it is active, discerning, and morally grounded. That’s why Paul immediately adds, “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” Genuine love doesn’t ignore truth or compromise righteousness. It rejects what corrupts and clings to what brings life.
This has profound meaning for biblical health. When love is authentic, it brings wholeness to both the giver and the receiver. Studies show that love expressed through kindness, empathy, and connection strengthens the immune system, reduces stress, and promotes emotional stability. But Scripture revealed this truth long before science did. God designed love to heal, to mend what sin fractures in body, soul, and relationship.
Hypocritical love, on the other hand, breeds inner division. Pretending to care while harboring resentment, jealousy, or bitterness creates stress that seeps into every part of life. Jesus called this the “leaven of the Pharisees”—an outward appearance of goodness with inward decay. It corrodes relationships, drains peace, and even weakens the body. True health, then, begins with integrity of heart; a love that is real, not performative.
Paul’s call to “abhor what is evil” is not only moral but restorative. To hate evil is to reject everything that destroys life: hatred, deceit, injustice, and sin in all its forms. To “hold fast to what is good” is to cling to what nourishes: truth, kindness, holiness, and mercy. This is the pattern of healthy living, both spiritually and physically.
For the modern believer, Romans 12:9 is both a mirror and a roadmap. It asks us to examine the quality of our love. Is it real, rooted in Christ, and healing to those around us? Genuine love is God’s prescription for the soul. It brings harmony to relationships, peace to the mind, and vitality to the body.
Ask yourself today: Is my love sincere? Do my words, motives, and actions reflect the wholeness of Christ’s love?
Prayer: Lord, purify my heart so that my love may be genuine. Remove every trace of hypocrisy, bitterness, or pride. Help me to hate what is evil and to hold fast to what is good. Let Your love flow through me, bringing healing to my relationships and health to my whole being. Amen.
