Bible Verse of the Day Sunday November 13th, 2022

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.

In the opening of this verse, Peter tells us at what priority we should place Love in our lives. First, our Love for Christ Jesus and all people is to have priority over all things in our being, material and spiritual (Colossians 3:14).  In Paul’s first message to the Church at Corinth, the Apostle distinguishes love as the foundation on which the fruit of the Spirit rests. Love is a gift God has given us so that we might live in Christ Jesus and Love as Christ has loved us (John 13:34). 

Love is the highest form of character, generosity, and goodness that anyone can hold (1 John 4:7-8; 1 John 3:14) and is central in any relationship with other Christian brothers and sisters or those who have yet to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Apostles Peter, Paul, and John are in total agreement with this because it came straight from Christ Jesus; it is not simply an opinion that all three held (Paul: 1 Corinthians 13:13; Romans 13:8; John: John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:23; and Peter here in this verse of Scripture). 

 

The Love spoken of by Peter, John, and Paul in the above verses means that we will hold others up before ourselves and be willing to give of ourselves and our plans and schemes to help others. As Christ Jesus laid down His life for us, we will be ready to sacrifice our lives for the gospel of Christ Jesus and others. This truth does not mean that we will lay down our lives in one sudden and dramatic flash, but that we give of ourselves daily through our service to Christ Jesus and others (John 15:3; Galatians 2:20; 1 John 3:16). 

 

The Love spoken here in this verse and the writings of the other Apostles mentioned above does not overlook or disregard sin. Moreover, on the other hand, it does not construe deficiencies into damaging and disparaging condemnation. Instead, this Love means that we show grace in the face of other people’s shortcomings, just as our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, shows grace in our faults and imperfections. Further, this kind of Love forgives others when they have sinned against us, just as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). 

 

This kind of Love not only forgives but forgets as well; it does not hold grudges and, at the mention of someone’s name, continues digging up old misgivings when they should be buried deep in an unmarked grave. Therefore, since none among us are righteous (Romans 3:10), and we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and have had our sins forgiven, we, as followers and believers in Christ, should reflect the Love of Christ in our dealing with all people. 

 

This kind of Love covers all sins committed against us, just as the Love of Christ Jesus has forgiven all our sins. Not that we can ignore the sins of others, but that we do not hold the sins of others against them.