"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8
You've heard it said, "Love the sinner, and hate the sin."But in reality, how do we do this?
Others sin against us. They hurt our children. Their words and actions demean and cut us to the core. The sins of others leave pain and heartache in their wake of destruction. So, how on earth do we love the person whose sin is causing such pain?
Very simply stated, by the grace of God and nothing less! There is nothing "on earth" we can do to remedy this situation. We could seek revenge, but then we allow ourselves to go to a place of sin as well. We can ignore the person, but then how do we witness to Jesus' love if we don't offer ourselves as his hands and feet.
In order to love the sinner and hate the sin, we have to become fully aware of our own sins against God. Gossip, hate, anger, idolatry, selfishness, drunkenness, foul language… the list goes on and on. Notice I didn't include murder, unfaithfulness, fornication, adultery, and a host of other "biggies" because in the heart and eyes of the Lord, sin is sin. Yes, on earth sins carry varying degrees of consequences, but before God, the sin still renders us guilty.
We learn to love the sinner and hate the sin by sitting at the feet of our gracious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was beaten, broken, bruised, insulted, humiliated, and crucified. Yet, he was absolutely sinless. When he finally spoke, his words were words of grace and humility, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." We sit at his feet and ask him to humble us in our own sin. We ask him to show us his grace in abundance and thank him for his mercy. Just imagine if God gave you what you deserved- oh, the fear that brings to my soul! His mercy is in abundance and overwhelmingly mixed with unending grace.
We learn to offer grace to the sinner, by learning how much grace we ourselves really receive from our Savior. We learn to offer mercy by allowing God to show us how he has spared us from what we really deserve.
So, today I have to ask you a tough question. 'Where are you withholding grace and mercy?' I've been praying on a situation and time with God has taught me that when he asks something of me I must move quickly in response because delayed obedience is still disobedience. So, as I pray for you to extend mercy and grace to those who have hurt you, please pray for me to do so as well.
Lord, you are ever abounding in grace and mercy. Teach me to be humble, remembering my own sinful acts not as an area of shame, but as a catalyst for grace extended to others. Help me to see sinners as you see them, beautiful, worthy and lost. Use me, Lord to love and cover a multitude of sin. Amen
Others sin against us. They hurt our children. Their words and actions demean and cut us to the core. The sins of others leave pain and heartache in their wake of destruction. So, how on earth do we love the person whose sin is causing such pain?
Very simply stated, by the grace of God and nothing less! There is nothing "on earth" we can do to remedy this situation. We could seek revenge, but then we allow ourselves to go to a place of sin as well. We can ignore the person, but then how do we witness to Jesus' love if we don't offer ourselves as his hands and feet.
In order to love the sinner and hate the sin, we have to become fully aware of our own sins against God. Gossip, hate, anger, idolatry, selfishness, drunkenness, foul language… the list goes on and on. Notice I didn't include murder, unfaithfulness, fornication, adultery, and a host of other "biggies" because in the heart and eyes of the Lord, sin is sin. Yes, on earth sins carry varying degrees of consequences, but before God, the sin still renders us guilty.
We learn to love the sinner and hate the sin by sitting at the feet of our gracious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was beaten, broken, bruised, insulted, humiliated, and crucified. Yet, he was absolutely sinless. When he finally spoke, his words were words of grace and humility, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." We sit at his feet and ask him to humble us in our own sin. We ask him to show us his grace in abundance and thank him for his mercy. Just imagine if God gave you what you deserved- oh, the fear that brings to my soul! His mercy is in abundance and overwhelmingly mixed with unending grace.
We learn to offer grace to the sinner, by learning how much grace we ourselves really receive from our Savior. We learn to offer mercy by allowing God to show us how he has spared us from what we really deserve.
So, today I have to ask you a tough question. 'Where are you withholding grace and mercy?' I've been praying on a situation and time with God has taught me that when he asks something of me I must move quickly in response because delayed obedience is still disobedience. So, as I pray for you to extend mercy and grace to those who have hurt you, please pray for me to do so as well.
Lord, you are ever abounding in grace and mercy. Teach me to be humble, remembering my own sinful acts not as an area of shame, but as a catalyst for grace extended to others. Help me to see sinners as you see them, beautiful, worthy and lost. Use me, Lord to love and cover a multitude of sin. Amen
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