We are all aware that we celebrate the month of February as the Love month. We show our love in our speech, in writing and in deeds. We wonder at times if we really love the person or just by tradition. But we, as Christians, are guided by what the Bible says which is, “We are to love without hypocrisy ...” Romans 12:9

The Webster’s dictionary defines hypocrisy into two categories: simulation and dissimulation. Simulation means to be what is not, the assuming of false appearance of virtue. Dissimulation is a deceitful show of a good character, deceitful appearance, false pretense, a concealment of one’s real character or motives. When we show our love in whatever category is still hypocrisy.

Charles Spurgeon used to illustrate hypocrisy with the following story:

An American gentleman said to a friend, “I wish you could come down to my garden and taste my apples.”

He asked him about a dozen times but the friend did not come. At last, the fruit grower said, “I suppose you think my apples are good for nothing so you won’t come and try them.”

“Well to tell you the truth,” said the friend, “I have tasted them as I went along the road I picked one up that fell over the wall and I never tasted so sour in my life! I do not particularly wish to have anymore of your fruit.”

“Oh,” said the owner of the garden, “I thought that would happen. Those apples around the outside are for the special benefit of the boys. I selected the sourest kinds to plant all around the orchard so the boys might give them up as not worth stealing. If you will come inside, you will find that we grow a different quality there, sweet as honey.”

The moral lesson of the story is let us not feed others the sour fruit of deceit but let us feed them the genuine fruit of honest and pure love of Christ which dwell within us.

Love with sincerity is Gods love which has been ministered to believers by the Holy Spirit and must be ministered to others in the Holy Spirit’s power.