In 1934, the leaders of two nations sat down together and signed a “nonaggression pact.” “The time has come to introduce a new phase in the political relations between Germany and Poland,” the agreement stated, recognizing that “the guarantee of a lasting peace between their countries is an essential pre-condition for the general peace of Europe.” The only problem with the agreement was that one of the parties involved was Adolf Hitler. A few short years later, the German blitzkrieg swept through Poland. When it was over, six million Polish citizens were dead, many of them murdered in concentration camps.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Romans 12:9

The world is filled with people feigning friendship or love. The glad-handing politician who wants your vote; the slick salesman who wants what’s in your wallet. Be careful when a man pats you on the back, someone once said, because he might be looking for a soft place to stick the knife.

Is your love for others genuine and Christ-like, or is it encumbered by self-interested motives? As you pray, ask God to help you give of yourself authentically and unselfishly. Americans from the nation’s capital to your own neighborhood need to experience genuine love today. Make sure they receive it from you.

Recommended Reading: II Corinthians 6:1-10