1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
In what way does love cover sin? To “cover” sins is to forgive it, and forgiveness is associated with love. The best example of a love that covers sin is our Lord Jesus’ sacrificial death on our behalf. In fact, Jesus did more than just cover our sin; He did away with it completely. As believers, we reflect the love of God by forgiving others.
1 Corinthians 13 tells us that love “keeps no record of wrongs”. When we love each other we are willing to forgive each other. Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
We see that love is something that has always existed among the persons of the Trinity.
Love has no beginning and does not end. Love does not cover over a multitude of sin by sweeping matters under the rug. Love confronts, corrects and forgives. Love covering sin also does not mean we disregard our own emotions or ignore our personal boundaries. We cannot “cover” sin by denying that it hurt us. We cover sin by acknowledging it and then extending the forgiveness God has given us by His Grace also to others. Acting in love means we put others before ourselves.
Let us ask God to give the grace that is needed to walk in forgiveness towards people who hurt us and by doing that allow God to reveal Jesus through our lives.
