“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Romans 12:9

When we hear the phrase “a marked man,” we usually think of someone who has been singled out in a negative way—someone who has a target on their back. But in the life of a follower of Christ, there are certain “markers” that identify us in a very positive way. These are the qualities that reveal the transforming work of God in our lives.

It is no accident that Paul begins this list with love.

But notice something important: Paul is not talking about love as merely an emotional response. Instead, he describes love as something much deeper—a way of living that is marked by sincerity. Real love is not about creating the feeling of being loving. It is about actually loving others with authenticity and truth.

Most of us can recognize the difference. There are people who want to appear loving, and there are people who genuinely love you. One feels polished and self-serving; the other feels real, humble, and sincere.

Sincere love is free from deceit and hypocrisy. It flows from a genuine heart.

Paul gives us one of the clearest pictures of what this kind of love looks like in 1 Corinthians 13 –

Love that is sincere is free of deceit, free of hypocrisy. Sincere love is marked by a sense of genuineness. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7