1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
We have talked about receiving grace, and yesterday we spoke about falling from grace. Today we look at extending grace to others.
Above all, above everything we do in our lives, we are to love each other deeply. Love is our commandment (Matthew 22:37). Jesus said this was the greatest commandment for all of us. It calls for a devotion with one’s entire being, with our entire heart, soul, mind, and strength. It also means we are to love God with all our inner thoughts, affections, intelligence, and might. AI says, “This deep, all-encompassing love for God is the foundation from which other ethical commands, like loving your neighbor, are derived.”
Not only are we to love one another, but our love covers over a multitude of sins. That doesn’t mean our love grants them forgiveness or atonement, but we can extend grace to them and forgive any offense we might have experienced. Again, AI says, “A loving attitude overlooks the faults and offenses of others, focusing on forgiveness and reconciliation rather than judgment or retaliation. It encourages people to act with patience, kindness, and a desire for the other person’s well-being, rather than keeping a record of wrongs or giving in to anger.”
Wow. Is that how YOU are living? Are you letting love cover everything? It is easy to play the victim card and whine about the way we have been treated. But the Bible tells us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39). We don’t have to make ourselves doormats, but we do have to forgive and continue to love no matter how hard it may be. We extend grace to them because we had grace given to us.
Who can you extend some grace to today? Look for opportunities to love others through whatever takes place. Give grace in the same way that grace has been given to you.
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