1 Peter 4:8  – “Love covers a multitude of sins.”

Last night, through the night, and today, in reading, praying, and pondering, a singular truth kept tugging at the chords of my heart.  That was the Power and Covering of Love!
That caused me to examine my own heart.  Not only to consider my failures, but also my response to others who have erred.

Love Covers…   That is intriguing on many levels.   Luke 17:3 and Matthew 18:15 instruct us to confront sin, so what about “Love” covering sin?   Covering can be understood as shielding from view.   It is not to make it a public display.   Not ignoring or justifying it, but not spreading it around as “News.”

Psalm 51 speaks of awareness of sin, and 1 John 1:9 assures us that if we confess (to God and whoever has been hurt or affected by it) our sin, we are forgiven by God.  If by God, then who is man to withhold forgiveness?

Proverbs 17:18 – “A friend loves at all times…” James 3:6 tells us the tongue is a raging fire.  We seem to forget that it is not just being harsh-tongued but being a purveyor of “News,“ exposing to public scrutiny a brother or sister who has erred. 

We say (thinking our words are benign), Did you hear, or what do you think about?  We are not covering them in love and are not fulfilling Galatians 6:1 to restore them.

Forgiveness carries with it the grace to cover transgression in a brother or sister.  We help our brothers confront their sins and help shield them from the tongues of gossip and accusers so they can be restored.

For example, if someone confesses to us and we expose that to others, the vicious tongues can use that and destroy their lives.  It can bring physical, financial, social, and emotional harm to them.  By spreading it rather than covering them, we participate in their harm rather than being instruments of restoration.

Galatians 6:1 says we cover them considering ourselves.   It could be us in that predicament.   Consider our forgiveness from God.   He covers us in love as He enables us to be restored.  Should we do less?  Love covers it, does not justify, but seeks complete restoration.  We deal with each other through love or selfishness, not both.

Lord, help me to love enough to cover my brothers and sisters needing restoration.  Let me be iron that sharpens iron, but not a rasp or a hammer doing harm.  Help me to always keep Your Forgiveness in the forefront of my heart and mind.

Rather than trying to be the Chief Exposers of Error, why not seek to be the Chief Reconciler and Restorer?   Which is the heart of Jesus?