“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
As we usher in a new year, we are ushering in another challenge in our walk of faith. Each year, we have a focal passage that we study and each week our devotion helps to apply that focal passage to our lives. This year, our focus will be on loving others the way Christ loves us. This may sound like a very simple task but as we dive deep into God’s Word, God will reveal areas in our hearts that do not reflect His love. Are you willing to allow the Lord to do whatever is necessary to mold and shape your heart into a heart that “loves the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5)? Jesus Himself tells us that “…If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me” (John 14:23-23).
Strongs:
Fervent # 1618 ektenes = without ceasing
Love (KJV the word for love in this verse is “charity”) #26 agape = affection, dear love
What does it mean to love someone with a fervent love? Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” The perfect example of loving with a fervent love comes from Christ Jesus Himself. Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah from Genesis 3. The moment sin entered the world, Christ was the solution. Christ came to reverse the curse and allow us to live in freedom through His shed blood. Christ did not base His decision on our behavior but on His perfect love alone.
What is love? Love is a decision to put others before ourselves. Love is an attitude of the heart that accepts people as they are. Love is a shelter for others to turn when they are hurting or in need of encouragement. Love is the voice of truth holds us accountable to God’s Word. Love manifests itself in forgiveness, in truly rejoicing with others when they rejoice, mourning with those who mourn, praying for those in our lives, and giving thanks for the people in our lives. Love is genuine, gentle, does not boast or seek to serve self. Love is the very nature of our Lord and Savior. Love characterizes a true follower of Jesus Christ. “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).
What does it mean when Scripture says, “…for love will cover a multitude of sins”? Is this passage talking about love having the power to forgive/pardon sin? Absolutely not! Our focal passage is referencing Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.” This verse is describing interpersonal relationships, not salvation. Basically, this means that when we respond in love to those who have hurt us or offended us, we are able to forgive those sins that might otherwise come between us. This is not an easy task but it is possible through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As I have shared several times last year, my heart’s desire is to be a godly wife and mother. This is a huge challenge for me because my sinful nature does not naturally respond with love and forgiveness. I have to guard my tongue and practice thinking before speaking every day!! God is revealing to me that my tongue responds out of the overflow of my heart. Needless to say, I have many heart issues that the Lord is graciously and faithfully confronting with the truth of His Word.
My Friend, what is the condition of your heart today? Do others know that you are a Christian by your love for others? Is God revealing to you today heart issues that need to be corrected through His Word? My prayer for each of us this year is to love the Lord God with all our hearts, minds, and strength and that we will live a life that reflects Christ to a lost and dying world. In order to accomplish this, we MUST put aside ourselves and love the way Christ loves. God’s Word tells us, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13). “…Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).
