This morning I felt led to read from 1 Peter 4:7-11 NIV:
[7] The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. [8] Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. [9] Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. [10] Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. [11] If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
The verse that grabbed my attention this morning is verse 8, for it provides an interesting principle that bears reflection. The idea that love covers sins is specifically the idea I am considering this morning.
Looking at the original Greek, this is pretty much exactly what it says, although possibly we might replace deeply with fervently. The Greek word here is 1618 ektenḗs (an adjective, derived from 1537 /ek, "wholly out" which intensifies teinō, "to stretch" which is also the root of English terms, "tension" and "tense") – properly, stretch out, i.e. fully because completely taut; (figuratively) at maximum potential, without slack because fully extended to its necessary outcome.
The word covers is the Greek word kalýptō – properly, to cover; (figuratively) keep secret, hidden; "covered over" (concealed).
If we properly understand sin here as the Greek word hamartia defined as having no part in, or missing the mark (think bullseye and archery), and the target being loving God and one another as He loves us, then I think we have a proper word picture of this sentence and idea.
Pulling it all together, Peter encourages us to love (agape) one another so much, stretching our love to the fullest extent, it will cover over those actions that were unloving towards God and others, as if they never happened. Put another way, our hitting the bullseye in loving each other, effectively makes the other many errant shots as if they were all either hitting the bullseye or were never even shot.
Doesn't that just seem wrong to our human understanding of justice, and what's right. Imagine you are in an archery competition and you hit the bullseye and everyone else gets credit for a bullseye too, or gets all their bad shots taken off the scoreboard! We like to keep score, and this just flies in the face of that!
However, putting this in the context of loving like Jesus loved, laying down His life, paying the price for all of our sins, taking upon Himself the punishment for all our sins, we see this is actually just a small example of that type of love at work in our own lives. Now, I am certainly not saying that we, in our love for others, are some sort of savior, messiah, or that we are paying for their sins. There is only one savior and that is Jesus.
So how do we understand this?
I am certainly not some Bible scholar, but it seems to me this is more about our motivation to love one another, than it is about keeping score. Our love for one another is to be a sign for others of our following of Jesus (John 13:35). Our love for one another is supposed to be so radical that it draws others to Him. Our love for one another is supposed to be a light in this dark world like stars shining (Phil 2:15). Our love for one another is a sign pointing to the true Savior of the World! Our love for one another is meant to remind us of His love! Our love for one another can even be the rope that helps people stay anchored in God's love! His Love and sacrifice is the only payment for sin, and ours love can become an invitation to fully embrace His love and salvation.
Going back to the verse about love covering a multitude of sins, and the analogy of an archery tournament. Maybe in this competition individuals only get so many failed attempts. When I was a pole vaulter you had three shots at clearing a height. Maybe our love extends the number of failed attempts, and basically just allows others to stay in the tournament, and conceals the fact that they have missed a bunch of shots! It doesn't cancel their failed attempts, it just continues to conceal the number of misses.
Wow! That changed my whole perspective on this. Maybe our love extends the love, mercy and compassion of the Lord, and allows people to experience it, even when they are failing or in sin? Isn't that just like our God? He never gives up on us, is always for us, and continues to give us opportunity to meet Him and accept His love!
Oh Lord, help me to love others fervently, that they might experience Your love, mercy and compassion and see You rightly! Help me to stop keeping score, and start stretching my love to those who need another chance!
Amen and Amen!
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