1 Peter 4:
7The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
What Peter calls us to is to extend that sin-covering love to one another. That’s the second part of the observation that I think is great here – because people within the church will not always be loveable. We all have our sinful tendencies and we know that there are some who might rub us the wrong way. But we are to love one another to the point that it covers over those sins. Now, this isn’t meant to say that church discipline is wrong or that we should live with everything that each of us does. There is a time for correction, a time for rebuke, and even a time for excommunication. But the general rule for how we are to interact is to love one another to the point of overlooking some of those faults that might otherwise cause division.
We all have different personalities and we all struggle in different ways. If we simply take to pointing out one another’s flaws, we will bite, devour, and ultimately destroy one another – and there will be no encouragement among us. But, at the same time, we also should not allow ourselves to be indifferent to one another. No, we must embrace one another, in love, regardless of those flaws. Just as we must think as Christ thought, so we must love as he loved
To love the way God instructed requires great grace.
I have lived in 2 different countries with 2 different cultures. The methods for dealing with conflict differs greatly.
One wants to confront, fight, get upset, curse when an offence comes
The other walks away, pretends to be peaceful, but talks about the issue with so many other individuals.
As Christians neither way is correct. The first causes many broken (irreparable) relationships as the trust is so damaged by the curse words spoken.
James 1:19/20
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
The second way is damaging to someone else's character and paves the way for many divisions between friends and in church organisations.
Proverbs 17:9
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
Now let us get into some more deep truth.
If you are replaying a matter over and over again in your mind, or you may find the need to go to another or others with it, then you are offended.
Next stage is this - if offended and you do not resolve the matter, but it is eating away at you. You could possibly have opened the door to not only offense but to resentment too.
There has been much said above, much "food" for us to meditate on. As such it is prudent to continue this article another day, as it is not my intention to overload you. Part 2 will be released on Thursday.
Walk good in Christ
Till we meet again
Pastor J
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