Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
A few days ago, during
a slight warm spell in Rochester, I was looking out over my lawn and noticed
quite a few leaves and twigs that were not raked up during the fall. I remember thinking the lawn looked a little unkempt
and I should probably get out there and do one last cleanup before winter
settles in for good.
Well, I never
made it outside, but then the very next day we had blanket of snow fall, and
just like that, my lawn looked just as good as any lawn in the
neighborhood. All the blemishes were
covered by a pure white blanked of snow.
With that fresh snowfall, the thought of going outside faded to the back
of my mind, at least until the next thaw.
When we look at
others, it’s very easy to first notice their “blemishes,” perhaps a weakness,
failure, or past sin. But God tells us
to love one another fervently or as Webster defines it “with passionate
intensity.” When we do, instead of seeing blemishes, we see a child of God,
eternally loved and forgiven. Any
blemishes are hidden by a blanket of love.
We are also instructed
to pursue love “above all,” above our tithes and offerings, our bible reading, prayer
time, and church attendance. It’s the
foundation upon which everything else is built.
The bible spells out pretty clearly the usefulness of a life without
love when it says “if we don’t have love,
we are nothing” (I Corinthians 13:2).
Take a little
self evaluation when you come in contact with others. What’s the first thing about them that comes
to mind? Is it thoughts of love and
affection or do you see their shortcomings?
When God looks
at us, he doesn’t see our sin. He looks
at us through eyes of love. Let’s strive
to live in the same manner.
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