Most important of
all, continue to show deep love for each other,
for love
covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:9
Have you read
that verse and thought, “I have no idea what that means. How am I supposed to
cover the sin of my _________________ (husband, parents, children, friends,
pastor, etc.)?"
When you and I
see someone else’s sin, especially
another Christian’s sin, our hearts quickly choose a response: Empathy,
disbelief, mercy, judgment, forgiveness, exile, and perhaps the overwhelming
desire to fix this situation.
Maybe “fixing”
this sin looks like confrontation. Maybe it starts out as getting the facts
straight and slides into collecting every sick detail. Each one of us has
watched it become the teeth-clinching topic of every conversation for weeks on
end.
We’ve been
influenced by sinful circumstances. God is very aware how we’ve been taught to
react to the failings of others. With a merciful heart, He sent us Peter to
guide our response into something Christ would do. He says we are to show deep love and cover the sin, the way Jesus did.
Jesus is our
mercy seat. Mercy is compassionate treatment towards an offender, an adversary. Mercy from God is receiving a pardon for something you could certainly be
punished for.
In the Old
Testament, the mercy seat was a lid on top of the ark. It was symbolic of God’s
presence. From this seat, God dispensed
mercy to His people when the blood of atonement was sprinkled there. In the New
Testament, Jesus became that atonement with the sacrifice of His blood – His
life. Jesus is the covering for our sin.
I love to sing
the song, Mercy Seat. These lyrics are powerful!
I'm running, I'm running, I'm running to the
mercy seat
Where Jesus is calling, He said His grace would cover me
His blood will flow freely, It will provide the healing
Where Jesus is calling, He said His grace would cover me
His blood will flow freely, It will provide the healing
The beat and the
love behind the words are so moving. I find my heart running toward Jesus when
I hear it. I’m running because I know I will be welcome there. I know I will
not be shamed or turned away.
We cover the
multitude of sins we are staring at by interceding, the way Jesus intercedes
for us before the throne of God (Romans 8:27, 31). We run with their name to our
Mercy Seat where Jesus covers that outrageous sin (and ours) with His blood. Yes,
we struggle to cover it. We struggle to have a mind full of Jesus’ thoughts.
The war within
us to remain horrified at the evil and condemn the person as evil too is very,
very real. It is palpable. BUT, in our weakness, He is strong. He is strong in
us when we confess our weakness – this desire to judge, to slander, to exile,
to cripple with our words. Then His
power comes to rest on our weakness. Then – THEN - He can use me and you to
transport their wounded heart to the place where healing awaits them.
And then, when
our hearts have carried this undeserving sinner to the merciful God, the peace
of obedience appears. This peace is a guard for our hearts and minds. It settles
our pounding hearts and makes even more room for the love of Christ to radiate
in our relationships.
Scripture References:
1 Peter 4:8
Hebrews 9
Romans 8
2 Corinthians
12:9-10
1 Timothy 2:1-4
Isaiah 32:17
Philippians 4:6-7Jennifer O. White is the author of the forthcoming book, Prayers for New Brides: Putting on the Armor After the Wedding Dress. She is prayerfully speaking HOPE from the truth of God’s Word at jenniferowhite.com. You can download her free ebook – Prayers Spoken, Lives Changed here.
Great Post!! :)
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