The Believer’s Character:  A true believer is loving.

Part 2

Yesterday:
“And above all things.”
Believers, take note, this is important!

“Have fervent charity among yourselves:” (a)
No fake love here. Only the real thing will do.

Today:
“Have fervent charity among yourselves:” (b)
“Fervent” comes from a verb that means “to stretch, and signify intense strain; feeling on the rack” [1] (Vincent).  It describes intense love that is stretched to accommodate the needs of our brothers and sisters.  If you think about it, this is the only kind of self-sacrificing love that will be able to “cover the multitude of sins.”

“For charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
Think about this, my sins and your sins need to be “covered.”  If I look at a person and see only their sin, my love is weak.  When I can look beyond the sin and see the sinner in need, I am learning to let love cover their sin.

This in no way means that we take a weak position on sin; on the contrary, we practice dealing with our sin God’s way.  And we strive to help others who are in sin also.  We each need the ability to let our love cover someone else’s sin.  To do less than this, we will be unbiblically critical of the person and never have the opportunity to befriend and help them. Unfortunately, this can happen in our churches, too, if we will not let our love “cover the multitude of sins.”

“Where love abounds in a fellowship of Christians, many small offenses, and even some large ones, are readily overlooked and forgotten.  But where love is lacking, every word is viewed with suspicion, every action is liable to misunderstanding, and conflicts about – to Satan’s perverse delight.” [2] (Grudem)

“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins” (Proverbs 10:12).

Child of God, how’s your love life?

[1] M.R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Grudem, as quoted by David Guzik, David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.