DAILY DEVOTIONAL – August 19, 2020
“Take Cover”
Prayer: Our most gracious and forgiving God, you call us to love with the same love with which You loved us; dying on a cross for our sins. We admit Lord, we cannot love like You without You. Keep us ever close to You and Your Word so that by the power of Your Holy Spirit we can deny ourselves and love even those who hurt us and sin against us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-8
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Devotion – “Take Cover”
Peter doesn’t mince words much at all here does he? “7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
Peter says to be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. God of course hears all prayer, even our prayers that are misguided by sin and selfish, and God has promised to answer our prayers. Peter cautions us to stay in control and focused on God’s Word and will, not ours, so that we are not deafened by our own sinful passions but instead have our full attention focused on God and are able to hear God’s answer.
Peter also says above all else, meaning more important than anything else, love one another earnestly and genuinely because love covers a multitude of sins. By no means is Peter suggesting that more of our sins are overlooked by God the more we love other people. What Peter is saying is that the love Christ has given us in His perfect sacrifice, the same love He calls us to have for those who sin against us and hurt us, covers a multitude of their sins. Of course, we cannot forgive or cover up anyone’s sins with our own love, only God can and has forgiven sins in Christ Jesus. However, when we forgive those who sin against us or hurt us, when we respond to those who hurt us with love and forgiveness rather than retribution or contempt, we ourselves come to better know and enjoy the assurance of Christ’s forgiveness for our own sins.
The Lord who loves us perfectly and who has covered all of our sins in His own blood, is coming soon; very soon. Peter reminds all Christians to live expectantly in honest prayer and love, not only to ensure we stay prepared to meet our Lord who is to come but also to keep our hearts prepared and able to experience the love of our Lord who is with us now!
“Love covers a multitude of sins.” Christ calls us to love those who sin against us, to love our enemies, not because our enemies need our forgiveness instead of Christ’s, but because we need the forgiveness that we are called to give those who sin against us. When we hold a grudge or hold hatred in our hearts, it is not our enemy that suffers, but us. An unforgiving heart filled with resentment or bitterness has no room left to know or experience the joy and freedom Christ has promised us through faith in His love.
Only through His love can we cover the sins of those who sin against us and be truly set free, prepared for that final day when our Lord returns. God bless you, and remember that God has forgiven yesterday, is with you today and has already taken care of tomorrow. Amen.
