October 31, 2022
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
As little children, many of us were taught very early from 1 John 4:8 describing the character of God: God is love. Love does not exist in a box. To be love, it must be expressed. The creation of our world was a mighty expression of the love of our heavenly Father, who is pleased to see His children regarding one another with loving kindness.
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. Proverbs 10:12
Jesus demonstrated before the world and the watching universe the love of our Father in heaven: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) This is the greatest expression of love imaginable. It was in obedience to His heavenly Father that the sinless Son of God bore all the sins of the world as if they were His own.
In light of such an example, is it not appropriate, then, for each of us to bear patiently with one another? Dare we doubt that the Lord can and does use the forbearance of His saints—in obedience to His word—as a pointer toward Him? Look to Him today, believing that the miserable failures of your past are covered. As you look to Him, you will see in others the same potential that He sees. This is the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2) beloved.
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38) This flow of living water is not work but the natural consequence of forgetting yourself and thinking of Jesus and the salvation of others.
To him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted as righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.” Romans 4:5-8