1 Peter 4:8 – “And above all things have fervent charity (LOVE) among yourselves: for charity (LOVE) shall cover the multitude of sins”. (NKJV)
If you were to ask Jesus what matters most in life, His answer would be simple: love.
Not the fleeting, surface-level kind that fades when things get hard, but a deep, selfless love that reflects the heart of God. All throughout Scripture, love is shown to be at the very core of what it means to follow Him.
Jesus made this clear in His teaching. He said the greatest priority is to love God with all that we are—our thoughts, emotions, decisions, and actions. And He didn’t stop there. He said that the world would recognize His followers not by religious rituals, theological knowledge, or impressive achievements, but by one unmistakable quality: the way we love one another.
That’s exactly what 1 Peter 4:8 reminds us of:
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (NIV)
Peter isn’t just talking about a polite kindness or occasional good deed. He’s calling us to a love so deep that it changes how we see people and how we treat them—even those who have wronged us. This kind of love doesn’t keep score. It’s not easily offended. It’s willing to forgive, just as we have been forgiven.
And that’s where things get challenging. Forgiveness isn’t easy. It can feel like the hardest thing we’ll ever do, especially when the hurt is fresh or deep. But forgiveness is one of the clearest signs that God’s love is shaping our hearts. We can’t truly forgive without love, and we can’t truly love without forgiving.
This kind of love isn’t about pretending pain never happened. It’s about choosing to release the grip of resentment so that peace can take root. It’s about letting God’s grace flow through us, even when everything in us wants to hold on to the offense.
So here’s the question: if the people who know you best were asked to describe you, would they say you are deeply loving? Would they say you forgive quickly? Would they point to the way you go out of your way to show compassion, patience, and kindness?
If the honest answer is “not always,” you’re not alone. None of us loves perfectly. But that’s the beauty of walking with God: He doesn’t just command us to love; He empowers us to love. He fills our hearts with His own compassion so that we can give to others what we have freely received from Him.
Love is the most powerful evidence of God’s presence in our lives. And when we make love our highest priority, everything else in life finds its proper place. Today, you can begin to lean into this most important work. Start small. Send that encouraging message. Listen without interrupting. Offer patience when it’s tested. Choose to forgive before bitterness sets in. Amen.
