Scripture

1 Peter 4:8 NIV

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Consider

A hurtful conflict may offer us the best opportunity to experience the healing power and reconciling nature of love.

When we have been hurt by another—betrayed, insulted, rejected, or somehow damaged—we don’t often think of responding with love. Our knee-jerk response might be anger, defensiveness, or a need to hurt back. From there we might start nursing a grudge or indulging in harmful gossip. It takes effort to overcome our instinctive habits and remember that God commands us to respond with love instead.

God’s Word tells us that love covers over a multitude of sins. Interestingly, love not only covers our offender’s hurtful behavior but also covers and smothers our own sinful desires to inflict harm and let our bitterness rule. Love muffles the strident voice of our selfish secular culture and reminds us that God has a better way to deal with conflict.

When God’s illuminating love flows through us and out to the other person, our perceptions shift. We start to see the whole person again instead of just the part that offended us. We shift our desires from getting even to building up the relationship. In an honest moment, we may even recognize our own sinful inclinations in the other’s offensive behavior and ask God to forgive us.

Remembering to love in the throes of a painful conflict requires God’s grace because such generosity rails against our natural instincts and the ways of the world. Thankfully, the Spirit delights to work in our hearts and minds, confronting and comforting, admonishing and empowering, as he daily conforms us to the heart and mind of Jesus. The Spirit counsels us to honor our calling not to judge and punish others but to bring love and light into the world wherever we happen to be.

Pray

Loving and gracious Father, I confess that when I have been hurt, I don’t want to love. I don’t want to forgive. In those moments when I would respond to hurt in sinful ways, please help me to remember how much I love you and desire your will for my life. Cover me with your love so that I can offer this person love and light instead of a hurtful response. Wash me clean from all hatred and bitterness and make me holy, set apart for your good work on earth.

Reflect

Proverbs 10:12; Romans 4:7-8

Ponder

Who in my life do I find especially difficult to love and forgive?