Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12 WEB
Love is the centerpiece of Godly ethics. In both the Old Testament and the New, love is commanded to promote peace and an orderly life. Leviticus 19:18 forbids grudges and revenge saying, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord. KJV”
1 Peter 4:8 encourages sincerely loving one another with these words, “And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins. WEB” Responding to an offense with another offense only escalates trouble and strife. It only multiplies evil. On the other hand, responding to an insult with love, diffuses strife and restores peace. Truly, love covers all wrongs.
The bible teaches in 1 John 4:8, “He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. WEB” There is great wisdom in love. After all, it is the essence of God. Just as when God gave his only Son as a sacrifice for our sins, when we choose to love rather than display hateful behavior, we create an atmosphere that encourages reconciliation.
Love Is Patient
In our sinful nature, hateful actions tend to lead the natural man to respond with hateful acts of his own. Love, on the other hand, tends to promote a better response. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, “Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil, WEB” Love does not hold a grudge.
Paul writes in Romans 12:19, “Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, ‘Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.’ WEB” As we interact with our fellow man, it is good to remind ourselves of the authority that rules over each of us.
Rather than hate and seek revenge, it is best to leave these matters to God who judges fairly and without offense himself. Otherwise, we become as wicked as those who offend. Just as many a mother says to her child, “two wrongs don’t make a right”
Love One Another
Further, we are commanded to love one another as believers by Christ who says in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. WEB”
Ultimately, when offended, it is best to be led by the holy Spirit into love. As Paul writes in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. WEB” Choosing to love as commanded by God, we avoid breaking both God’s law and the law of man. As the scripture says, “love covers all wrongs.”
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for your love and the life-giving message in these words, “love covers all wrongs.” Thank you for forgiving my sins. Give me wisdom to apply your word to my life. Help me to walk in love. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Be An Example
