The Most Difficult Way
Covering for Others – Part 3

Scripture Reading:  1 Peter 4:7-11

Key Verse: 1 Peter 4:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Continuing from yesterday, we recognize that people are going to fail us and hurt us.  We start there and determine ahead of time how we are going to handle those transgressions.  I start most days with the Lord’s Prayer, which includes the reminder to ask for forgiveness and the promise that I will forgive those who sin against me.

Love covers a multitude of sins.  This phrase could be put into a more modern vernacular: “I’ve got you covered” or “I’ve got your back.”  In other words, the Apostle Peter is thinking of Christ followers living in a sin-filled world that daily brings new hurts.  He wants us to learn to navigate the many frustrations with God’s grace.  He wants us to learn to patiently overlook the way people snap at us or accuse us falsely.  He wants us to “cover” for people who do things to us that really hurt.  When we could easily “get them back,” God wants us to “have their back”!  He wants us to talk about them kindly when it could be easy to gossip about their faults.

The title for this week’s theme is: “The Most Difficult Way.”  Can you see why?  This is hard stuff.  It is not easy to love as God loves us!  This journey is uphill and takes determination and effort to walk like Jesus (1 John 2:6).

Father, I will need reminders today to respond to hurts with your love and grace!  I can do it through your Son who strengthens me!  In Jesus’ name, amen.