Overcoming Love

Taken from the Live Like You Are Dying Daily Readings ... Week 3; Day 5

"The end of all things is near.  Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.  Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:7-8)

I bet you didn't know that Peter told us to live like we were dying.  Here is what he said about it:

Because the end of all things is near,
      1.  Be ready to pray
      2.  Love deeper, and
      3.  Love in such a way as to overcome the barriers to love.

Sound familiar?  Peter would have liked the "Live Like You Were Dying" song.  It has all the elements he felt were important to focus on with limited time left.

Are you surprised he put prayer at the top?  If you knew the end was near, prayer would seem like a natural thing.  You would want to get connected with where you were going.  Prayer is eternal.  So daily be in a spirit where prayer is a breath away.

And you would want to love those around you deeply, because love give life meaning and connects you to those who are most precious to you.  Love is of God and lasts forever.  When we get to heaven we will love everybody, so we might as well get started now.

You would also want to love because love overcomes the barriers that keep us from each other.  It covers over a multitude of sins.

Sin separates us -- our sins against others, their sins against us.  We let each other down.  We belittle, judge, gossip, and otherwise destroy one another.  But love is so powerful; it can overcome all of that.  It covers it over.  It buries it.  This is not even forgiveness.  It is God's love working through us -- a love so great that is can overlook offenses.

There are a lot of things that love does.  1 Corinthians 13 lists many outward expressions.  Peter has chosen one aspect of love particularly applicable to the shortness of time.  When time is short, you want to set things straight.  You don't want to leave this life with unresolved hatred in your heart towards somebody.  When my father died, he had everything already taken care of right down to the flowers on the casket.  He was meticulous about this.  He made sure all his affairs were in order.

In the same way, when you live like you were dying, you want to have all your relationships straightened out and in order, at least on your end.  We have no control over how others feel about us, but we can love them, and do so enough to absorb however they have harmed or offended us.  Love makes up for all offenses.

"Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs."  (Proverbs 10:12)

Reflection thoughts -
1.  Is there a relationship where you need to apply this kind of love?  Is there any reason why you can't love this way?  Ask God to help you.  He is the author of this love.

2.  Covering over wrongs done to us means we have to let go of them.  This can be difficult because it means letting go of our pride, but we need to do it.  Pray for God's ability to truly forgive those who have wronged you.

3.  Spend a few moments right now thanking God that his love has covered over all your sins.