Most
Important Of All,
Continue
To Show Deep Love For Each Other,
For
Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins.
Scripture
1
Peter 4
8 Most
important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love
covers a multitude of sins.
Observation
Years
ago when Kathy and I first served as missionaries in Mexico I
remember visiting a very small church in a small village for some
special celebration that the church had invited me to.
From
the street in front of the church I could see another small little
Baptist church, close enough that if I had wanted to I could have
thrown a small a stone and hit it. It was that close!
When
I asked why there were two Baptist churches in the same tiny village,
(and not to mention so close together) they explained to me that a
disagreement, probably better known in their village as a
knock-down-drag-out fight, had splintered the small congregation into
something even smaller. Now what was left after the feud was two
itsy-bitsy-teenie-weenie congregations.
And
if I had time I could probably think of an example right here in
Tampa where one of our churches did the same thing. It is a shame,
but it shouldn't surprise us.
The
Apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:8 that we must love each other
deeply, and only when we love each other deeply will we be able to
get along with each other and live in harmony, because love covers a
multitude of sin.
We
are family - we must stick together!
Can't
get along with people – are you easily offended? - if that is the
case, don't you dare brag about it!
It
shows me this about you – you have not yet learned how to love
deeply!
Application
I
must love people deeply and overlook their imperfections - their
sins, because I too, am a sinner.
How
about you? Holding a grudge? Still need to get something right with
someone? Don't wait until tomorrow. Call them or write them today –
show them that you love them – give them some deep love!
Prayer
Heavenly
Father, give me the ability to love the unlovely and to love anyone
who has decided in his or her heart to be against me. Help me to love
those who come into my life with the same deep love that You show me.
I don't deserve Your love and they don't have to deserve my love for
me to love them. Thank You for my family, my wife, my children, my
grandchildren, and my extended family. Help me to always love them
deeply no matter what. Thank You for my church family. Give me the
same kind of deep love for each one of them - no matter what!
I
pray for LaNan Brevik and her children today as they go through this
time of loss. Give them strength. Comfort them. Thank You for
allowing me the opportunity to know Jim Brevik. He was a special
friend. I will see his smile and I will fellowship with him again
when I am with him around Your throne!
Daily
Bible Reading: Isaiah 43,44,45; 1 Peter 4
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