DAILY DEVOTION, March 25, 2021, Love

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. ⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:7-8).

Peter anticipates the end of the age and the return of Jesus. He calls upon Christians to focus on what is really important. He doesn’t want us to waste our lives on frivolous things but to live thoughtfully and prayerfully. Then he reminds us of the most important thing of all, love for one another.

Christians sometimes can act just like unbelievers, majoring in gossip, backbiting, arguing, etc. Peter reminds us that love is at the head of the list of Christian virtues. We are not only to love others, but our love is to be fervent.

When Peter says that love covers a multitude of sins, I think he means that if our actions are truly motivated by love, even if we act wrongly, love covers over our failures. In other words, if I inappropriately act toward you, if love is my motive, my “sin” is covered. We are never wrong when love is our motive. That, says Peter, is above all things.

Father, I thank You that You loved me long before I loved You. Help me to shower Your love upon others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.