Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:8 (ESV)
In one way or another we are all blind when it comes to our own sin. It is much more comfortable to look at what others are doing wrong than to introspect and examine ourselves. But we need to remember when we are pointing at our brother or sister there are many more of our own fingers pointing back at us. It takes a humble spirit to walk in unconditional love because a humble spirit enables us to look more honestly at our own shortcomings and helps us to overlook the offenses of others. When love is in abundance, people are quickly forgiven. How quickly do you forgive? Do you hold a grudge for a while? You can’t be angry and walk in love at the same time. God tells us in Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (NIV) We must get the anger and unforgiveness out of our heart before the sun goes down every day. Otherwise, we are opening the door to the enemy who is going to cause us to perpetuate the issue by bringing it back to our mind over and over again. If we don’t quickly forgive, we begin to nurture a root of bitterness and a bad root is sure to produce bad fruit. Shut the enemy down by letting it go and if you can't do it by yourself, go to God and ask Him to do it in you. He can do it, He is that awesome!
We would do good to remember 1 Corinthians 1:26 “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.” (NIV) Do you remember who you were when you came to Jesus? That can be a very humbling thought. Our lives were filled with sin and chaos and our hearts were dark before we accepted the Lords call and let Him replace our heart of stone with a heart of flesh. We were by no means the cream of the crop and the truth is we still have a long way to go. We must discipline ourselves to press in every day to be all the Lord wants us to be or we are going to backtrack to where we started. We show the Lord how much we appreciate what He has done for us by being clay in His hand and letting Him change our hearts and minds to come into accord with His heart and mind. He picked us up and cleaned us up and wants to work with us to become more and more amazing every single day. Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (KJV) That is humility coming from a man who wrote 13 books in the bible. Nothing stirs our hearts like the thought of being loved, accepted, and appreciated. Go make someone feel that way today. Let them know they are more than welcome in your life and in your heart, just like the Lord did for you. Pride exposes the wrong actions of others, but love covers it up.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ~1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)
Who were you when you came to Jesus?
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