Life of Love
How you ever been to a church potluck? Do you know what a church potluck is? It’s an event that people bring food to in order to share a meal with others. You prepare one or two dishes to share and get to enjoy what others have brought! What foods might you bring? What foods might you look for and choose as you consider the options set before you at the meal? What unfamiliar foods are you willing to try?
In the Bible, Peter talks about how believers should support and love one another: “The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:7-8).”
Our passage compels us to be disciplined, clear-minded, and self-controlled in our prayer life. How would you describe prayer that meets this instruction? God gives us great latitude for when and how we should pray. For some, it might be reading a prayer from a book or online. For others it may be as part of a prayer group that gathers regularly to pray. Some turn to scripture to read great prayers. Church services almost always include prayers. Some of the most meaningful prayers is just talking to God from your heart.
Our passage compels us to be disciplined, clear-minded, and self-controlled in our prayer life. How would you describe prayer that meets this instruction? God gives us great latitude for when and how we should pray. For some, it might be reading a prayer from a book or online. For others it may be as part of a prayer group that gathers regularly to pray. Some turn to scripture to read great prayers. Church services almost always include prayers. Some of the most meaningful prayers is just talking to God from your heart.
What does it mean in verse 8 when it says, “love cover a multitude of sins”?
One Bible interpretation says, “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of our faults,” and, “love overlooks each other’s many faults (The Living Bible).” That doesn’t mean ignore sin; it means that we understand that we are to learn to forgive and support one another even in our shortcomings.
Peter heard someone else in scripture give us this command to love one another. Who? It was Jesus. He said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35).” And again, in John chapter 15, verse 12: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
One Bible interpretation says, “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of our faults,” and, “love overlooks each other’s many faults (The Living Bible).” That doesn’t mean ignore sin; it means that we understand that we are to learn to forgive and support one another even in our shortcomings.
Peter heard someone else in scripture give us this command to love one another. Who? It was Jesus. He said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35).” And again, in John chapter 15, verse 12: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
Think about this kind of love as if it were on a scale between “I’m fond of you” and “I am totally committed to you.” God is totally committed to us and that’s the kind of love God has for us. He asks us to live our lives in a way that we reflect and share that love with others.
4832 Ponderings:
Closing Prayer:
Dear Lord, we are so blessed by You in every way, and we thank you! Give us eyes to see those in our lives that are in need of material, emotional or spiritual support. Lord, show us how we can respond as the hands, feet and voice of Jesus! Amen
- Who is in your life for whom you can more deeply share God’s deep love?
- Before you speak or act, consider if what you are about to do reflects God’s love?
Closing Prayer:
Dear Lord, we are so blessed by You in every way, and we thank you! Give us eyes to see those in our lives that are in need of material, emotional or spiritual support. Lord, show us how we can respond as the hands, feet and voice of Jesus! Amen
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