“Above all,
love one another deeply,
because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8*

Today I’ll wrap up the “One Another” series
with the granddaddy of them all.
Love one another.

Above all.
Most important of all.
Before all things in order of importance.

Deeply.
Intensely, fervently, without ceasing.
It means to be “stretched out”, straining with unceasing activity which requires a degree of intensity and perseverance. The same word is used to describe Jesus praying in Gethsemane, sweating drops of blood.

Love covers over a multitude of sins.

“Our love needs to be the kind that covers each others sins. In other words the focus is on the effect of love that enables fellowship in spite of sins. Isn’t that remarkable? Peter is saying that bona fide, authentic love and fellowship is based, in part, on the covering of many sins. This is not sweeping things under the rug. It’s not endorsing keeping skeletons in the closet. It’s not renouncing church discipline. It’s saying at least this — probably more: When we’ve done all the confrontation — when we’ve done all the argumentation and exhortation — we cover it. Whatever side we are on we cover it; we give it up; we bury it as a cause of murmuring.” (John Piper)

Throw the cloak of love over everything.
Devotion
Honor
Harmony
Acceptance
Greetings
Encouragement
Bearing with others
Agreement
Service
Bearing burdens
Kindness and compassion
Spurring on
Hospitality

Lord, help us, Your children, to love one another deeply. Amen.

*Part fifteen in a series on “The One Anothers”