Genuine love

[bubbleperson]

Hi, recently I've been questioning the meaning of genuine love. I was reading Romans 12:9

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection."

The bible has many other passages that speak of love, that we need to love one another. Love our enemies. I find that so hard. Before, I would read those words and they wouldn't impact me much. I haven't really thought about how hard it is to truly love someone. I thought if I were nice and kind that is the same as love. Recently, I found out they are very different. I've been having problems with my roommate for about a year. We just don't "click," and sometimes she says some insensitive and blunt things that really hurt me. I kept saying I will try to love her, but I couldn't. I was consistently nice to her in my actions, but I was really hurt and sometimes angry. I felt really hypocritical. God has been speaking to me and telling me that I cannot genuinely love someone on my own. He's been telling me that only He can help me genuinely love my enemies and strangers.

But I wanted to here what other people thought about this aspect of genuine love, and whether they have encountered times when they came to genuinely love an enemy through God's power.

 

[lissieluvs3in1]

You are definatly starting to understand the defionation of true love just by youquestioning.to simplilify ,if you love God you'll love all people

 

[wpage]

The Golden rule is a great principle to live by.

 

[singpeace]

Bubbleperson,

This is a great thread, and this is a topic Christians should discuss from time to time.

To answer the last part of your post; Yes, I was able to genuinely love my grandfather who had molested me as a child. I would pray for God to help me forgive him and love him. Not that I wanted to spend time with him; I simply wanted to take care of the condition of my own heart so that I could go further in the Lord.
It took more than 9 years of trying everything; claiming it, praying for it, studying about it, then claiming it again. Finally, he was on his death bed, and I went to see him. The instant I laid eyes on his frail and wasted body, my heart became unglued and I felt like a mist rose off of me. The only thing I felt for him was compassionate love.

Keep doing what your doing, and God will bless you for it.