Love without hypocrisy

Abhor evil; cling to good

I just finished reading The Watchmaker’s Daughter, a recently-written biography about Corrie ten Boom (more widely known from an earlier biography, The Hiding Place). It was a thorough and captivating story of her faith (and the faith of her entire family). I was amazed at her/their endurance through oppression, imprisonment, and abuse. And I was both encouraged and challenged by her/their desire to care for and share the gospel of Jesus with EVERYONE — Jews, Germans, prisoners from other countries, and even Dutchmen who collaborated with the Nazis.

The biography honestly portrayed how Corrie sometimes struggled to trust God and love others. Even after the war, as she helped many others find healing and forgiveness, she realized that there were some people that she had withheld forgiveness from. She asked God for the ability to forgive them, and He helped her do that.

I have no idea what I would have done in a similar situation. I pray that God would give me the grace to trust Him and love others.

But I don’t have to wonder what I would do. I can and must live that way today, trusting God and thanking Him in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and showing justice, kindness, and humility in my everyday life (Micah 6:8). And I can do that by His power and grace, through the Holy Spirit who He lives in me.

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)