Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
If you knew the end was near, what would you prioritize? Above everything else, Peter wants his readers to love one another deeply. Why? Because love is the lubricant that makes community work.
The churchs job is to be ministers of reconciliation . We accomplish the Great Commission by introducing people to the reconciliation available through the cross. As we work together to do this work, there are plenty of opportunities to get sidetracked by offenses and hurt feelings. These are things the enemy uses to thwart our efforts.
But when we love one another deeply, it covers those offenses and prevents the enemy from derailing our work.
Greater Love Has No One Than This
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down ones life for ones friends.
Again, Jesus tells the disciples to love one another as He has loved them. This time He tells them that the greatest sacrifices demonstrate the greatest love. And nearly every disciple will be given the opportunity to literally lay down his life to build up the church.
Its critical for us to understand that just because we may never be called to die for another doesnt mean that we dont have the opportunity to lay down our lives for one another. Even before Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice on Calvary, He demonstrated sacrificial love every day.
Every time He stopped what He was doing to cast out a demon or heal someones affliction, He laid down His life. Every night that He stayed late in a town healing everyone who was brought to Him, He demonstrated this kind of sacrificial love.
If were paying attention, well discover that we have daily opportunities to lay down our lives for our friends.
One Bible Chapter1 Corinthians 13is Aptly Known As The Love Chapter Since It Gives Us A Beautiful Description Of What Godly Love Is Like
The rest of this letter from the apostle Paul shows that some Corinthian church members sought certain spiritual gifts with a wrong motiveto gain superior status. In 1 Corinthians 12:311 Corinthians 12:31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I to you a more excellent way.American King James Version×, Paul said, “And now I will show you the most excellent way”the right motive and approach for exercising all spiritual giftsthe way of love.
In 1 Corinthians 13:1-31 Corinthians 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.American King James Version×, Paul mentions several impressive gifts. No matter which gift we have, if we are lacking love, then in God’s sight we are nothing! Without love, the gift is tarnished, the results are ineffectual and God is displeased. 1 Corinthians 13:31 Corinthians 13:3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.American King James Version×shows that even self-sacrificing, charitable works can be done with motives other than true love.
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Biblical Examples To Follow
1. Like Job, I cling to God, who loves me and is in control, in the midst of my deepest pain .
2. Like Ruth, I care loyally for my loved ones .
3. Like Jehoshaphat, I face trials and danger with songs of praise for Gods faithful love .
4. Like Nathanael, I am known by God and loved .
5. Like the Samaritan Woman, I am satisfied because God knows me, loves me, and fills me .
Bible Verses About Kindness
1 Peter 4:8: Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.Ephesians 4:32: Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one anotherand all the more as you see the day approaching.Ecclesiastes 4:9-11: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?Ecclesiastes 4:12: Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.Ephesians 4:2-3: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.1 Thessalonians 5:11: Therefore encourage one another to build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.Proverbs 18:22: He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.
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Bible Verses On Choosing The Right Friends
Most of us have someone who has made a difference in our lives. When deciding which path to take, a true friend can help guide us in the right direction. The people we can count on are truly irreplaceable, something that these Bible verses emphasize.
- “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26
- “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.” Proverbs 22:24-25
- “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
- “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20
- “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” Proverbs 27:5-6
- “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
Learning Activities And Crafts:
Activities:
- Make a list of ways to show love this week.
- Have children write out the list of love attributes in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Use dictionaries if necessary to explain and/or illustrate each of these.
- Older children could create a love challenge based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Using a small piece of paper, each child writes down a way to show love during the following week. One challenge per paper. Have the children read the challenges out loud so that you can check to see if they are appropriate . Then have the children fold the papers and place them in a basket or bowl. After this each child now draws out one folded challenge. This is their challenge for the week.
- Puppet Skit for Pre-schoolers: Try using simple finger puppets or soft toys for this cute application Loving one another Puppet Skit which was submitted by Jenny Ancell, Australia. Youll just need to change the names of the brands and stores/shops to adapt to your situation.
Crafts:
- Write titles across the top of blank sheets of paper and let the children draw pictures depicting each one. You could do the same with a long roll of newsprint.
- Do any craft using a heart. Adapt Valentines Day crafts.
- Let the children cut hearts out of pink or red paper and write parts of the verse on each heart. Provide flat chocolate bars and show the children how to wrap their paper around them. Give these away as gifts.
Check the Teaching Ideas page on this website for ideas that are adaptable to any lesson.
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Bring Me Word Of Your Unfailing Love
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
In this psalm of lament, David communicates personal remorse for his shortcomings and the fear that as a consequence for disobedience, his enemies are going to overtake him. Over and over, David pleads with the Lord not to forsake him:
- In Your faithfulness answer your servant
- Enter not into judgment with your servant
- Answer me quickly, Lord
- Hide not your face from me
- Deliver me from my enemies
Davids cry to let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love isnt a reflection on how a beautiful sunrise reminds him of Gods love. Its a desperate and impatient request for God to intervene and provide quickly. Its David saying, Please let me know that you love me by tomorrow, and you can do so by showing me what to do next.
This might seem like a pushy and insistent kind of prayer that many believers wouldnt be comfortable with, but David is called a man after his own heart . And God typically responded to Davids bold prayers.
Love Is The Greatest Commandment
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?
Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Jesus reduces the entire law to two commands: love God and love people. This fits perfectly with what we learn about God throughout the Old Testament. He makes a connection between our faithfulness and our love.
He then says that the second command is like the first. We are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. How is that command similar to the command to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength? If we truly love God, we love what He loves. And that begins with loving the people He came to redeem.
And who is our neighbor? In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus shows us that everyone is potentially our neighbor-particularly when theyre in need.
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Ways To Tell The Story:
This story can be told using a variety of methods. Always remain true to the facts found in the Bible but help children connect to its meaning by using drama, visual aids, voice inflection, student interaction and/or emotion.
or Be selective. Each teacher is unique so only use the illustrations that best relate to the way YOU are telling the story in THIS lesson. Too many illustrations can be confusing so eliminate any that cover other stories or details you do not wish to emphasise in this lesson.
Bible Verses About Loving Yourself
Scriptures for living life empowered by His love –
Wait, Im supposed to love myself? Youre probably hearing self-care a whole lot lately, and yes, it is definitely important to make sure you are full before you are pouring out and taking care of others. Ooooooh but it is so important to be filled with the love of our Savior! Knowing how much he loves and cherishes us, and our every breath and move is surely the key to loving and caring for ourselves the way that He would. His love empowers us to be who we were created by Him to be, and to be confident because we are treasured by the Creator of the universe. The following bible verses about love help to encapsulate this love.
2 Timothy 1:7: For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Psalm 13:5: But I trust in your unfailing love my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 52:8: But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God I trust in Gods unfailing love for ever and ever.
Psalm 63:3: Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
Psalm 90:14: Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
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Bible Verses About Loving Your Enemies
The idea of loving and forgiving our enemies sounds completely ridiculous at times. It is our human nature to want to defend ourselves and fight back. However, if we are called to be like Jesus, we are called to forgive those who hurt us. Loving your enemy is less about reconciling a relationship and more about the condition of your heart! Here is a collection of Scriptures about love that will bring you peace and encourage forgiveness for those who trespass against us.
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” –Luke 6:27-31
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. – Luke 6:35
On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:20-21
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. – Proverbs 10:12
How Does This Apply To My Marriage Today
As Christians, we believe the Bible is as relevant today as it was when it was written meaning, it can still pierce our hearts and we can still make applications today from what we read.
Are your struggling with your mate?Well, love is patient. The Greek word used for patient in verse 4 means to be long-suffering. Love your mate by putting up with difficult people in difficult situations. Bear with imperfections. You have them too.
What can you do today to serve your mate?Because love is kind. The Greek word Paul uses here for kind translates as being useful and finding ways to render useful service to others.
Kindness is patience in action! Love shows up through kindness when you seek out opportunities to meet your mates needs without expecting anything in return.
Are you envious of your mates success? Of his hobbies? Of her relationship with her girlfriends?Love cheers on others without jealousy.
Are you being boastful?Boastful people look for every opportunity to seek out honor and elevate themselves. Love doesnt try to build up self, but rather, love seeks to build up your mate. The motivation behind bragging is to make others feel inferior to you, which kind of kills the whole love is not proud thing.
Have you acted selfishly in your marriage?Selfishness if the opposite of love.
Are you easily angered? Does your mate have to walk on eggshells around you?Thats not love.
Are you being open, honest, and vulnerable with your mate? That is love.
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Song Of Solomon Is About Sexual Love
The two books weve looked at previously are about the love that Christians should have for one another. But when we think of love today, its often in the context of romantic, sexual love.
Lucky for us, the Bible isnt silent on that matter. In fact, theres a whole book of the Bible that explores the passion between a man and a woman. Its the song of Solomon. This song has more of that Valentines-Day love. Its a passionate poem in which a bride and groom profess their love and desire for one another.
Song of Solomon is a fascinating book of the Bible. According to itself, its the greatest song of all. But if youre looking for advice on how to find a godly mate, youre not going to find a lot of help here. This is one of the two books of the Bible that doesnt even mention God. To be fair, theres a good deal of church tradition that argues the whole poem is an allegory for Christs love for the church, or perhaps Yahwehs love for Israel.
Honorable mention: In case youre wondering, the book with the most mentions of love overall is Psalms.
Second John Is About Love Truth And Obedience
This letter is only one chapter long, but it still mentions love four times. This very short book of the Bible explores the relationships between truth, love, and obedience:
- Love and truth. John loves those who know the truth, because the truth abides in them . When two parties know the truth, love comes naturally.
- Truth and obedience. God the Father commanded that His children walk in truth . When you know the truth, obedience comes naturally.
- Obedience and love. The commandment that God gave isnt anything new: love one another . A sure sign of obedience to God is love for His church, and a sure sign of love is obedience to God .
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