Today's Reading: 1 Peter 4:7-14

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 16:1-22; Luke 19:11-28

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. A long time ago in the 20th century, a rock band called The Beatles wrote a very famous song called, "All You Need Is Love." People have fun analyzing this idea. The bottom line is that it is absolutely not true, and absolutely true at the same time.

How do we sort this out? By defining what kind of love we are talking about. If we mean romantic love, desire, or affection, then the statement falls flat and can't be backed up. People need more than these loves, as important as they might be. However, if what you mean is "agape" love, the sacrificial and committed love of God for you in Christ, now you're cooking.

Why is this verse true? Because this love was and is the love of God the Father that drove Him to send His Son Jesus to save us from sin, death, and the power of the devil. In other words, this love is responsible for our lives. Without this love, we would not know life. Take away this love, life doesn't exist. This love was what moved God to create the heavens and the earth, and this love is what moved God to give Jesus to restore the heavens and the earth. This love is GIFT love. And here's the rest that God wants us to know: Once we receive this love of Christ, we aren't supposed to keep it to ourselves. We are to share it with others. God calls us to love others and when we do we cover, with this love, "a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).

True love covers sin and that means true love covers death, like the death of hostility. People can offend us and hurt us, and this can cause terrible rifts in relationships, but love can restore. Love can forgive, cover, and bring life back even into broken relationships. When this happens, a multitude of sins get covered, like all of yours are covered through the love of Christ for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

LORD God, heavenly Father, as we struggle here below with divisions among us, searching for peace among men, remind us daily of the peace of heaven purchased through the bloody death and triumphant resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our LORD, who with You and the Holy Spirit is one God, now and forever. Amen.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch