Above All, Love One Another

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Scripture:


1Pet. 4:7   The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.


Observation:


The first century church lived as though Jesus would return any day. A fervent prayer life was vital to the development of their faith, which was to be viewed with seriousness and discipline. The community of faith needed to remain united, and therefore Peter began a section on how they were to treat one another. Quoting from Proverbs 10:12, he reminded them that love would bind them together. When God’s love is the overarching principle for believers, they will be able to overlook personal differences. 


Hospitality was extremely important to the life of the church. They were to help support traveling ministers and teachers by having them stay in their homes and providing for their needs. The community of faith was to invite others into their homes and be willing to share their food with them. The early church was continually reminded of the visitation of the three to Abraham in the Old Testament. One never knew when they were entertaining heavenly guests, and therefore hospitality was to mark the church, and this to be done without complaining. 


The members of the church were all gifted in different ways. These gifts were not to be used for personal enjoyment, but for the sake of the community. Spiritual gifts were to be used for the benefit of the entire church. 


Words have an important place within the community, but they must be used cautiously. In all things God is to be at the forefront, therefore allowing God’s grace to fill our conversations, our service to others, and the mundane tasks of everyday life. The result is God glorified in all that we do and these leads Peter to break out into a doxology. When the people of God love one another deeply, the glory and the power of God is revealed — and we say, so be it! 


Application:


We aren’t living in the first century, but I’m not sure that the world is all that different. From the language of both Paul and Peter, there was a great concern that the church remain united in holy love. There have always been forces at work, trying to destroy the church. The best way for that destruction to happen is through division. It broke the heart of the Apostles and it breaks the heart of God. 


We are humans and we have differing opinions on so many things. Note that Peter’s call was not to conformity of opinion, but rather, to the supremacy of love. This holy love is to flow through us so that we can overlook what we do not have in common and love deeply. When we love deeply we respond in a way that will not damage our brother or sister in the faith. The love found in the life of the church is supposed to be shocking in the eyes of the world. And that is why Peter breaks out into a doxology — and glorifies God. 


Do we stop to think whether God will be glorified by the next thing we say, write, or do? When we become consumed with our own self-righteousness, we begin to believe that division within the community of faith may be of some value. I fail to see that anywhere in the New Testament. Over and over again I see grace extended, and Paul says to let God be the judge. 


The response of all believers is to be in Christ, and to participate in the holy love of the Triune God. The love that binds God together is the same love that is to bind believers. That’s why holy love is such a witness, because it points people to God. Only this kind of love can overcome the temptation to fight for our own way. 


Prayer:


Lord, I pray for an outpouring of your holy love in and through your people. Amen. 

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