Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

I Peter 4:8

In this passage from I Peter, Peter exhorts the believers to love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins. Eugene Patterson’s The Message puts it this way: Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it.

Love makes up for practically anything. It goes on to say, Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless – cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it; if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything – encores to the end of time. (I Peter 4: 7-11) What an incredible description of love in action! Amidst the suffering of the persecuted Church, Peter is challenging them to love and reach out with God’s grace to all! This passage of Scripture has challenged me over the years because when I am suffering, it is difficult for me not to be self-centered! Yet our God, in the person of Jesus Christ, loved us so much as He walked to the cross; He loved us so much as He suffered on the cross; He loved us so much as He forgave us on the cross. What a love divine! As His disciples, we are called to love by forgiving and by serving. In so doing, God will be glorified.

Meditate on these words: Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Do you love as if your life depended on it? Are you aware that your love covers a multitude of sins? As we love God and He loves through us, we are actually covering our sins and the sins of others. God’s “agape” unconditional love won for us on the cross pours over our mistakes, our sins, our wounds, our resentments. Only His love is powerful enough to break through our lives and offer us true forgiveness. How amazing is His love!

How awesome is His faithfulness!

Heavenly Father,

While I was yet a sinner, You died for me. It was love that held You to the cross; it was love that was powerful enough to raise You from the dead; it was love that will bring You back again. Help me to receive Your love.

In Jesus’ name, Amen