But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
To My Sweet Daughters,
"And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” I have spent so much time in the Scriptures in the verses that speak to love and have come to the conclusion that love truly is the answer to all things. God is love and if we put on His love and surrender to His Spirit whose love is shed abroad in our hearts our relationship with Him and with those around us will be, as much as depends on us, peaceable and pure. For those that Peter was writing to who were facing persecution putting on love was especially important so as not to let Satan gain any foothold and stir up divisions and discord.
The word fervent in this verse means to be stretched to the limit...stretched like a rubber band to its breaking point. THAT is a lot of love. It is the kind of love that is self-sacrificing and puts others needs and spiritual good ahead of our own...despite...and this is so important...how we are treated. Christ is our perfect example here. (Read Isaiah 50, Isaiah 52 and 53, read the gospel accounts of His suffering and death.) We are to put on love even when we are being treated unkindly, ungraciously, or even with hostility. We are to have mercy with the faults of others and be patient and not retaliate even when we are being mistreated. That girls is a very tall order and obviously cannot be done in our own strength. It is loving others with His supernatural love and remembering why....because the end of all things is at hand. Show others Christ...Show them His love....bring them to Him who can save them from an eternity without Him. In the end it is all that matters.
Anything done without self giving love is empty and vain. Anything done in the love that God pours out in our hearts for us will not fail. It will bring about the purpose that He intended for it. God's love is everlasting and permanent. His love outlasts all failures. Even if I do the wrong thing but I do it in Him my love it will have an effect for good.
Just to be clear here is the Scriptural definition of love. This is from John MacArthur's commentary on First Corinthians 13:4-7.
"Positively, love is patient with people and gracious to them with generosity. Negatively love never envies, or brags, or is arrogant, since that is the opposite of selfless service to others. It is never rude or overbearing, love never wants its own way, is not irritated or angered in personal offense, and finds no pleasure in someone else's sin, even the sin of an enemy. On the positive side again, love is devoted to the truth in everything. With regard to "all things" within God's righteous and gracious will, love protects, believes, hopes, and endures what others reject. Love outlasts all failures. Love is divine...it is from Him.
Love will cover a multitude of sins is quoted from Proverbs 10:12 which says, "Hatred stirs up strife but love will cover all sins." God's love covered our sins even when we were still His enemies. Romans 5:8 says this: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." We are to be forgiving to those Christ has placed in our lives as He was and is. We are especially called to overlook sins and offenses against us and always be ready to forgive them when they occur. We are not to keep the pot boiling returning evil for evil, but instead we are to love our enemies and do good to those who spitefully use us. Why? Because our job is to be about His business...we are to reflect Him in all we do. This life is not about us. It is about Him...it is His story. For us to get in the way with our own offenses is wrong. There are people dying without Christ. We are to be looking to shine His light not to justify ourselves. Christ is the just and the justifier. Commit yourself to Him. who judges righteously. Let Him fight your battles for you.....You hold your peace.
Love does not dismiss sin and these verses do not preclude the discipline of a sinning church member. (see Matthew 18:15-18 and 1 Cor 5) If someone we love is sinning, we are grieved for them because we know they are hurting not only themselves but others also. James 5:20 speaks to this also.
"Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
As much as depends on us, we are to live peaceably. The sins of others should not be broadcast about. They should not be gossiped about or told in detail to others so that they can "pray with more knowledge." When we love another, we cover his faults. We turn our eyes away or throw a blanket on them so to speak. We pray for those involved and remember what Jesus said in the gospel of Luke.
" Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
Love suffers long and is kind...it bears all things. Our God is the God who sees...their sins are not hidden from Him." They will be brought to light in His timing. Your job is to cover them in love and to remember that evil is overcome by good. A Christ follower should be KNOWN by the love he has for His God and the love he shows to his brethren.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”--John 13:34-35
Love
Mom
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