I’m a big fan of the bottom line. Get me to the point, and fast. Perhaps that’s why I love this gem, found near the middle of the book of 1 Peter: “Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins” (4:8).
This is the axis upon which the book of 1 Peter pivots. If we take a zoomed out approach, we see Peter tackling all manner of tough topics in this little letter. From holiness, to submission, to suffering, to leadership—Peter went for the jugular in his appeal to the Church. But all of it rises and falls and culminates with love.
Because what is “holiness,” divorced from a love for God? It’s rule-following at best, and legalism at its worst. What is submission apart from love? Manipulation? Fear? The ugly counterpart to dominance? Who wants a loveless marriage or cold-hearted shepherd? Not me. Not you, I’m sure.
Love is the linchpin that holds us all together. That’s why Peter reminds us that as Christ’s followers, love is what we are to strive for “above all.” But look again. This is not just is not the run-of-the-mill love we have for our favorite brand of ice cream. It’s not even the kind of deep love we feel for the people who mean the most to us. This love, “covers a multitude of sins” and shortcomings and heartache. Peter is reminding the Church of the first century to mirror Christ’s love, demonstrated most profoundly by His sacrifice on the cross. In Christ, we are a new creation, and as such, we ought to seek to live like one—free from the bondage of sin and shame.
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin (Romans 6:6–7).
The center of Peter’s letter—of the entirety of God’s Word, really—and of our faith is this gospel truth. Christ’s abundant love, manifested in His sacrifical life, death, and resurrection, covered my sins. It covered yours. This is the gospel, in its boiled down, beautifully simple form. Love is the bottom line.
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41 thoughts on "Following Christ"
So good!!! The love we receive from Christ covers us and redeems us! My prayer is that the bold love of the church (all of us) is scene and felt. Wreck-less love for Christ that pours out!
Holy Spirit guide me today as I navigate a world that is hurting and longing for you. Help me to love lavishly like you do. Let my love mirror yours in every way. Thank you for a love that covers all my sin.
Yes, Today’s reading! I am going to have to reread it again after work. I am feeling a bit jostled with life. These readings help me keep my thoughts on him and perspective in check. Thankful for SRT, the work you put in to this, the stories you share and the community!
This has been a week of enduring, heartbroken and anxious about the very things in this letter. Regardless, of my circumstances, through my suffering I am able to see Christs love a little more clearly. He is so sweet in his love and grace to give me this passage on an evening where I feel emotionally exhausted. All glory to God, in Jesus name, amen.
❤️❤️❤️
If you have an intens love for another, you can see his/her sin als your own. You know God gives you mercy, and so He also gives it to the other. It helps realizing you should forgive (cover) the other’s sin, because we are also quick to think our sin is not so bad.
I pray I can love like Christ!❤️
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Love covers sin. It doesn’t excuse it. Or say, “it doesn’t matter”. Sin is still a problem. But it is covered, forgiven. It doesn’t hold power in our relationships. If I love someone I will continue to love them even if/when they sin against me. And this can be so very hard sometimes. Especially when that person is close to you! So thankful for God’s Grace that forgives me and allows me to forgive others.
I love remembering the entire tone of Gods message in scripture. I’ve been studying 1 John with a small group at church, and it can start to sound pretty legalistic. This passage in 1 Peter reminds me that “love covers a multitude of sin.” It all comes back to love, no rule-following. We can focus on what we ought to be doing instead of getting bogged down in all the things we shouldn’t do. God brings us freedom from sin, let’s not be enslaved to fear by focusing on shamefully criticizing ourselves every time we slip up. Let’s run towards Jesus and his freedom.
This is really the essence of discipleship. It begins with a sold out love for God and follows with a sold out love and passion for reaching the lost.
Spoke directly to my wicked, broken heart. Thank you, Jesus, for this amazing love and that through the continual power and working of the Holy Spirit we, too, can express love that covers a multitude of sins.
Proverbs 10:12. Hatred stirs up strife. BUT LOVE covers all offenses . For many years this is how I was trying to live by in my marriage. Forgiving and loving and forgiving and loving again until one day something clicked and there are things there just “not ok”. Without giving details, please pray for me as once again I go to court this coming Friday, March 1 at 8:30 AM. Am I scared? Yes! BUT I know God is and has been with me. Someone is coming with me that has been coming the last few times. Please pray I remain strong with the strength that only God can give me.
God go before, beside, and behind you.
Thank you. I appreciate it this.
I have been in that position and it can be scary and sad. Glad you have support with you. Prayers for you on your difficult day and know that better days are ahead.
Thank you Karen this means a lot to me.
Praying for you, Mari V.
I really liked this essay. I did the readings and was feeling overwhelmed as I always do when reading anything about no longer sinning as I know that is a bar too high for me to reach. Then the quote about love covering a multitude of sins really jumped out to me so I focused on that. I got a big grin on my face when I opened this essay to see that it also focused on that. I feel much better. While I also know loving like Christ loves us is not easy, it feels more doable than never again sinning.
Thank You Father for always showing us the way. Thank you Erin for confirming my thoughts on the passage.
“…since love covers a multitude of sin…”
It would be easy to think that this means that love overlooks sin, but I like the picture that love is like a covering that protects someone as they deal with the consequences of their sin. Love doesn’t overlook sin, it just stands ready to lift up and protect.
I love that!
I love this!
It’s like throwing a blanket over people to protect them as you run through fire.
Beautiful
❤
Me toooooo!
Love that!
Amen, sister! Thank you for elaborating.
Lord, please give us your heart for others, that we see them through your eyes. That our love could cover a multitude of sin, help set prisoners free, and bring you glory Lord Jesus.
Angie, I just love reading through your comments. Thank you for summarizing the days lesson do uniquely!
❤️
Lavish, intense…… nothing compares amd I hope to show even a glimmer to those around me.
Dead to sin-alive to Christ Jesus.
Living no longer for human desires,
Living for God’s will.
The end of all is near;
be alert,
sober-minded,
prayerful,
Love intensely, constantly,
Be hospitable,
Don’t complain,
Serve your gifts out in God’s strength,
His words through your voice,
Glorifying Jesus Christ in everything.
Start in my heart, then
Give my obedience and love hands and feet, Lord.
Only. In. You.
Beautifully said….. praying this with you today. Blessings to you xxx
My translation says “maintain an intense love for one another”. I think the word intense turns it up a notch from constant. Intense is purposeful and focused. It becomes a priority because there is a sense of desperation and need. Intense infers a powerful force. It implies a sense of urgency. Isn’t that how Christ loved? Lord, thank you for intensely loving me! With your help, grow the intensity of my love for others. Amen.
Intense seems more purposeful than constant… I like that translation !
Ooooh I like this translation. Purposeful and focused- that’s how I should love. Thanks for this!
Christ loves lavishly. My love pales in comparison. Yet the Holy Spirit lives within me and burns for me to dare to mimic Christ’s love. Today may I be bolder and more reckless in doing just that. Let me be brave enough to risk enough to be called His follower. Amen.
Amen.
Amen. Thank you, Churchmouse.
To love like God seems easier said than done. There are circumstances and people that it feels easier to love in the way Christ loved. While there are other still who, thanks to a history or past experiences, are most difficult to love in that way. That is not to say that it is impossible, it will just take more quiet time alone with God to be able love like He does.
My translation says “maintain an intense love for one another”.