1 Peter 4:8, New Living Translation

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

Love…whoever knew that love could be so multifaceted…so hard…so complicated and yet at times so easy…and yet the Bible tells us that it is the most important commandment to follow. It sums up the law, love God and love people. Romans 12:9-10 (NLT) says, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection,[a] and take delight in honoring each other.” Peter tells us, “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8, NLT)

So how do we love when we have been hurt over and over again? How do we love when we feel that people just take– and take– and take– and leave us feeling drained and disappointed? How do we love when our own love tank is not being filled? It’s hard to love when you don’t feel loved. I believe we should consider changing our perspective. It will, of course, take discipline, because our flesh wants physical attention and love from a real person we can see with our physical eye. But maybe we should be focusing on the love of God. Jesus tells us to “Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33, NLT) If we are seeking the Kingdom, if we are seeking God for love, surely we will experience God’s love. When we are filled with His love, it will be able to overflow in us and through us to those around us. Experiencing His love first hand makes all the difference.

Another scripture, which we have talked about a few weeks ago now, says, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” (Colossians 3:1, NLT) Life can present some challenges making it hard to love, but we must keep our sights on the realities of heaven! But how? How do we do this? When temptation kicks in to look at our own struggles? Paul instructs us in Philippians, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9, NKJV) It may take time to discipline one’s mind, but with determination, we can do it! The Bible tells us, “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NLT) So, with determination and discipline, we will, even if it’s just one thing, meditate on one thing that is lovely, pure, true, just, noble, worthy to be praised. Meditate and think upon it, taking those thoughts captive and bringing down the strongholds of the lies of the enemy, and we will live and walk in truth! When we do, God will meet us there to give us His peace.  

I recognize that I cannot accomplish anything in my flesh, but with the Spirit of God to empower me, I can love with genuine affection. I can hate what is wrong and cling tightly to what is good! I can gaze upon the things above and not the things below, and carry His love and peace in my heart, where His light will shine the rest of my days! Not only can I do this, but you can do this!

The love of God is what truly sets us free! It was an act of love when Christ gave himself on the cross for our punishment. Paul instructs us in Galatians 5:13 (NLT), “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”

Love… It is a beautiful thing if we receive it from the source who gave us life and loved us from the very beginning. In turn, our love flows from His love, and we don’t have to struggle to love, because it’s His love flowing through us. I pray that we would come to the full knowledge of His love for us so that we may flow freely in the Spirit to do the will of God!

“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, NLT)