Love is a set of emotions and behaviors characterized by intimacy, passion, and commitment. It involves care, closeness, protectiveness, attraction, affection, and trust. Love can vary in intensity and can change over time. Love means knowing that no matter what, you have someone to count on.
It’s unconditional and makes you feel good on the inside. You can trust the person you love and are comfortable around them. It’s like your heart tells you that it is good for you. It means that you know the one you love would sacrifice anything for your love and happiness in life. The thought of unselfishness – SACRIFICE – is at the center of every true love story.
Our Love
We understand in our faith that Jesus’ love for us through God the Father provides our forgiveness. However, Peter is not talking about God’s love here – he is talking about our love and how love and forgiveness come hand in hand. Not one of us today could stand in God’s presence if it were not for Jesus Christ and the sacrifice, He made to cover our multitude of sins.
The word used here for cover literally means to blanket or shield one from something. Jesus’ death shields us from God’s wrath of eternal punishment for our sins. Peter is encouraging us ( God’s Church ) here to love one another deeply enough that our love can shield and protect us when our transgressions are against one another. We all sin in this life and sin when it is acted out affects others in one way or another.
Love Deeply From The Heart
How would our lives look if we loved one another deeply from the heart? ( 1 Peter 1:22 ) Jesus was asked by the Pharisees in Matthew 22 to choose or define our greatest calling from the law in this life ….
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40
If we were to Love God and Love others then it would be harder to sin than ever in our lives. If the first two thoughts that come to our mind before we act on anything were 1) what is God’s purpose for me in this and 2) how will my actions affect others I will come into contact with? How might we shield and blanket our sins from affecting others by avoiding them and how might we be more forgiving of others by realizing that we too stand in need of God’s love and grace in Jesus Christ each day?
Prayer
Please visit our How Can We Pray For You page if you want prayer.
Learn More
Would you like to learn more about Beulah Hill Christian Church? Please check out the Who We Are Page. You can meet our Pastor and find out what the symbol of the Disciples of Christ is and its history.
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