The Bible teaches that you have two options when it comes to those who sin against you. You may either cover sin in love or you may confront sin in love. You do not have the option of stewing in it, nursing it, telling others about it, writing poetry about it, or posting it online. And this applies particularly to those closest to you: your parents, your children, your spouse, your brother, your sister, your roommate. If someone sins against you or offends you, you may either cover the sin in love or confront it in love.
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses” (Prov. 10:12). “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends” (Prov. 17:9). “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8). Most offenses need to be covered in love. The apostle says love covers a multitude of sins. This means simply overlooking the offense, refusing to register it, putting it under the blood of Christ. This means that it really is gone. You cannot say you are covering it in love and then think about it some more or bring it up a week later. Covering an offense in love means that you have dropped it in the volcano of the Cross. It’s gone.
However, some sins need to be dealt with: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother” (Mt. 18:15). Being spiritual doesn’t mean you’re perfectly holy, but it does mean that you have a spirit of meekness, honestly seeking the truth, seeking to win your brother. Sometimes, additional conversations are needed, sometimes a second or third party are need, but sometimes you just let it go and cover it in love at the point. Our goal is to be at peace with one another, as far as it depends upon us.
Photo by Toby Elliott on Unsplash
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