The redemptive power of love

 

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8).

Bishop Michael Curry quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Megan Markle. I am sure the world noticed him repeating a phrase. “Love has redemptive power”.

Listen to what Martin Luther King, Jr. said,
“Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, “Love your enemies.” It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love, they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says, love.” (from “Loving Your Enemies”)”. We feel so unworthy when thinking about this type of love, don’t we? Surely, I do. God loved us when we were unworthy, enemies to Him and helpless. (Romans 5:6-8)

Bible says in 1 John 4:8, “God is love.” Love is one of the primary attributes of God. God’s love is redemptive love for sure, and that is why God covered Adam and Eve with the animal skin when they discovered they were naked as a result of their rebelliousness and disobedience to God. Later God’s redemptive love is again revealed beautifully by sending His only begotten son to this sin-bound earth to die for our sins. The love of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is also redemptive love because He gave himself totally and completely for our sins by dying for our sake on the cruel cross.

This trait is opposite and in contrast to the character of the Devil. Jesus said Devil is the liar and murderer from the very beginning. (John 8:44). It is because the devil hated Adam and Eve that he approached them and seduced them to sin against the loving God. He hates Adam’s posterity –all mankind. He hates Adam’s children. One reason He hates us is that God loves us deeply and He made humanity in His own image and provided everything we need for our life, sustenance, and future. Jesus died, buried, and risen again victoriously for our sins, but not for Devil or his demons. Sure, the devil hates us, doesn’t he?

The opposite to love is of course hatred. Bible says in Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” You see love results in covering a multitude of sins and wrongs. In opposite, hatred results in stirring up conflict and murder. To cover sin means to forgive it. Love and forgiveness go hand in hand. Jesus said from the cross about those who crucified him, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Forgiving another and thereby covering their wrongs is from God and is divine. Dear one, if you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, it becomes easy to forgive others because the Holy Spirit of God abides in you. God’s spirit will impart his divine nature of love to you.

When it comes to covering up a multitude of sins, no one can compare with Jesus Christ. He stands alone as a perfect example of this type of love. Our today’s Bible verse asks us to love each other deeply by covering a multitude of sin. It means love regardless, talk only good about others, respect others, do not try to pull others down even if you know they did wrong, and forgive from the heart as Christ forgave our sins by paying with His blood.

Got a minute for today’s prayer? Pray after me.

“Father in heaven, I know you loved me when I was so unworthy to be loved. You gave Jesus Christ for my sins. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. Help me to love others. Lord, forgive my past and make me a channel of God’s love to others. In the name of Jesus Christ, my savior, I pray. Amen.”