1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (NIV)
The most important and the deepest spiritual gift is love. I have often said that while there are so many wonderful spiritual gifts and each are precious in the site of God there is nothing that compares to love. Even the Bible backs me up on this in 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” This entire chapter lets us know that love clearly holds the #1 spot amongst spiritual gifts. One of the most important components of love is that it covers a multitude of sins. This does not mean that it condones sin but it just covers it, which means that it is not condemning and while it identifies sin it does not hold it against someone to the point of no return it allows for repentance and recovery. The life of Jesus Christ is the epitome of love in action. His love was unconditional, it was not condemning and it allowed for us to repent and recover from our sins. 1 John 4:8 says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Because God is love then real love must reflect who God is and that means that we can then no longer operate in our own definition of love but in the true definition of love which is God. In order to cover a multitude of sins and be covered by God’s love we too must begin to exemplify His love toward others while receiving His love for us.
God’s love has the ability to cover a multitude of sins because it:
1. Is Unconditional - too often people love conditionally but unconditional love is the only real love. Now I am not saying that relationships are not conditional but love is unconditional. We can love someone and always love them no matter what we just may have to change the nature of our relationship with them. We all love our children and family members unconditionally and will always have that love for them no matter what and that love never goes away when it is a God-like love. If they hurt us or bring harm to us it does not mean that we do not love them still but the nature of our relationship may change but the love is still there. God loves us unconditionally and even when we sin He still loves us while hating the sin and even though there are consequences for our sin, His love is still there for us to partake of.
2. Is Sacrificial - real love requires sacrifice, this is why God exhibited this with His own Son and did it on the grandest of stages for the whole world. One of the key components to love is the willingness to make sacrifices for the good of those whom you love. Too often people toss around the phrase “I love you” but are not willing to make any sacrifices for the good of that person or group of people. What sacrifices are you making for those you love? Sacrifice in this sense is a verb which means that it is an action word. Put others before yourself to exhibit your love for them, that is what God did and continues to do for us.
3. Does Not Condemn - God’s love does not condemn us but it actually challenges us to be better because He loves us so. Follow His example; God loves us unconditionally and sacrificially and because of that it makes us want to love Him and others in ways that we have not done before. When I look at all that He has done and continues to do for me in spite of me and my sins it makes me want to be and do better as I live this life. Condemnation is not what God is about He is about love, John 3:17 says “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
4. Leaves room for repentance and recovery - God’s love covers a multitude of sins in that it leaves room for repentance and recovery from our sins. It doesn’t condone sin it just covers it under the forgiving and saving blood of Christ so that we can have another opportunity to do it the right way. Yes there are consequences for our actions but we are given this covering so that we can recover from our mistakes because of His love. His love tells us that He will protect us from our sins and give us an opportunity not to have to die in our sins because of His amazing love.
Take advantage of the blessings of God’s love and then share it with others.
The most important and the deepest spiritual gift is love. I have often said that while there are so many wonderful spiritual gifts and each are precious in the site of God there is nothing that compares to love. Even the Bible backs me up on this in 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” This entire chapter lets us know that love clearly holds the #1 spot amongst spiritual gifts. One of the most important components of love is that it covers a multitude of sins. This does not mean that it condones sin but it just covers it, which means that it is not condemning and while it identifies sin it does not hold it against someone to the point of no return it allows for repentance and recovery. The life of Jesus Christ is the epitome of love in action. His love was unconditional, it was not condemning and it allowed for us to repent and recover from our sins. 1 John 4:8 says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Because God is love then real love must reflect who God is and that means that we can then no longer operate in our own definition of love but in the true definition of love which is God. In order to cover a multitude of sins and be covered by God’s love we too must begin to exemplify His love toward others while receiving His love for us.