Love forgives and covers sins.

Yesterday we read Romans 4:5, today our scripture encouragement comes from vs. 6-7. I’ll begin with vs. 5 and read right on through to 7. “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered.’” The point Paul made was that the only boast that a man can make before God is a boast that he is accepted by God as a favor from God. In this verse, Paul gave a second witness to this great truth. King David boasted in God’s great grace and favor when he declared that those who whose sins have been forgiven and covered are blessed by God purely as a result of His choice to justify the ungodly. If we have been raised up with Christ and Jesus lives in us, then we have the same attitude toward those who sin against us—an attitude of forgiveness and a willingness to cover their sins with love. The apostle Peter affirmed this reality when he wrote in 1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Why would we do this? Because we have been loved and are living to love with Jesus. The love of God courses through our lives for the glory of God. This is also echoed in the Lord’s prayer when we pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” More than likely today, someone will sin against you—maybe intentionally and maybe unintentionally. Regardless, you have the privilege to forgive their sins and cover them with your love—your love for God and His glory and your love for those Jesus loves and blesses. We are the beloved of God and we love or His glory in Jesus Christ. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com