DEVOTION – DAY 391

1 Peter 4:8 “Love Deeply”

1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

The Bible tells us to not just love others, but to love them deeply. How deep should our love be for others? 1 Peter 4:8 encourages us to love others to the point where we are prepared to forgive others over and over again. We do not keep a record of how many times we should be forgiving people who have wronged or hurt us. We continue to show love to them. Why does God tell us to do that? God tells us to love others deeply because that is how He has always loved us. He has forgiven us countless times when we had sinned against Him. If He can forgive us and continue to love us, if we follow Him as our Lord, we too must do as He says – to love each other deeply.

The Bible’s teachings is not what the world teaches us. Many people show love to others provided they receive love back in return. Their love is conditional, and reciprocal. People sometimes withhold their love to “punish” others for the wrongs they may have committed. People show love because they were showered with gifts. Such love is superficial. That is why 1 Peter 4:8 tells us to love each other deeply.

A woman married a man who was addicted to gambling. His gambling habit meant that often, the family income is lost because of his gambling debts. She struggled to feed the family. She thought of leaving her husband. But she knew she loved him and she would forgive him every time he said he was sorry for gambling. Her love for her husband was deep. She was willing to set aside her own disappointments and heartbreak and look past his many sins. Her love covered a multitude of his sins. In contrast, we know another woman whose husband had a bad habit of living on credit. His credit card debts would cause a strain on their family finance. As a result, this couple would often quarrel. Eventually, this couple split up. Her love for her husband was conditional. Her love was not deep enough to enable her to forgive his many sins.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and grace. Forgive us when we failed to love others deeply. Please help us to love others unconditionally and deeply. Help us to forgive others. We pray this in the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

1. What challenges do you face when you try to love others unconditionally?
2. Why is it difficult for you to love others deeply and unconditionally? What must you do to change so that you can love others deeply?
3. Is there anyone that you have a problem forgiving? What is stopping you from forgiving this person? Since God has forgiven you, will you forgive this person? Will you tell this person that you forgive him or her?