Ah, love. It’s perhaps the most overused and misunderstood word in the English language. Between hearing it commercialized in songs, movies, books and TV shows and then out of the mouths of people in our lives, I think we are almost becoming desensitized to it. Don’t get me wrong, a new baby wrapped up in a tiny receiving blanket, or my children’s chubby hands wrapped around mine as we walk together definitely gives me the feels. But overall, I think we just don’t think about what it means to love anymore. And if we do, its some weird sensationalized version of what society has convinced us that it looks like. Certainly not a biblical love. But who really cares what society says love is? I mean, its most recently given us jumpers for men, so ‘society’ has questionable judgment, at best. What I really care about is what my Creator, the God of the universe, says love is. His definition is how I want to love. So I turned off my TV and silenced my phone, locked my kids in the basement (just kidding. I don’t even have a basement) and reached for my bible. I read scriptures on love and waited for the Holy Spirit to speak. Here’s the verse that stuck out to me the most this week:
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:8
I’ll admit, the Holy Spirit stepped on my toes all week long as I sought out the truth in this verse. At first glance, its kind of like, “yeah, yeah we gotta love each other real hard. I get it.” But its so much more than that. To cover over something means to cover something so that it cannot be seen. It’s not saying to make an excuse for a sinful behavior or to sweep our sins under the rug but to cover them completely out of sight of anyone but God. So wives, when you husband offends you or is involved in a sinful behavior what do you do? Do you analyze his comments or behaviors with your girlfriends over coffee? Or do you take it to God in prayer? To be in line with the word and love our spouse the way God wants us to love, we need to completely cover our spouse’s sin and take it to the Lord in prayer. No one hates to hear this more than me because I, A. analyze everything to death and B. talk to my sister on the phone every morning. Sometimes it is just so nice to complain to someone who always takes my side. But if I want to align myself to the word and show love to my husband, I shouldn’t point out his sin to anyone but God. God doesn’t need us or our girlfriends/sisters to convict our husband. How’s that for a #truthbomb?
When I begin to notice one of our children lying or cheating, or being repeatedly mean to their siblings the first thing I want to do is ask my mom why she thinks they are acting up. Then I want her to go to her “How to fix kids” manual and tell me what to do! True, my mom might have more experience than me and it’s certainly ok to request that she pray for my children, but if I want to show the love of God to my children, his manual is the only one I need. My mama can’t change the sin in my children’s hearts, only God can. A mama blog can’t give you some magic advice that washes sin away and no psychologist can cure the sinful nature we are all born with. If you want to show biblical love to your children, take them to God in prayer.
What about that sassy little broad at work that is having an affair with the boss and has a snarly comment for every little thing you say? Surely you can just show her some fake, “bless your heart” kind of love and get by with that, right? I mean there has to be some kind of clause that exempts us from having to bite our tongue when it comes to people like her. I have had co-workers who have literally made my skin crawl and I’ve been sooo guilty of shamefully putting on a fake front and playing nice. One thing society has taught us to do very well is to show this vomit-inducing fake love to people. We gloss over our eyes, and hearts, with the expertise of an Oscar winning actress and pretend to be a loving friend when in reality we are gossiping about her (or him) the first chance we get. I got news for you, and me, sister. We might be fooling the whole world with our fake love, but God sees right through us. And he doesn’t like it. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to make God mad! If we really want to practice what we preach and show the love of Jesus, we must choose to not gossip (no matter how despicable the person) and take it to God in prayer. Ouch.
The last part of the verse says we are to offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Hospitality is another one of those words that has gotten totally twisted. And thanks to my arch enemy Pinterest, it’s managed to get even worse. I mean, who has time to hand paint tiny little turkeys on cupcakes for Thanksgiving, anyway? Who are these people and when do they sleep?? But hospitality actually puts focus on the guest and *gasp* NOT THE HOSTESS. This knowledge in and of itself is actually thrilling news to me. I am so relieved to know that God doesn’t care one ounce if my floors are spotless or if I’ve polished my silverware until I can see my reflection. He doesn’t care how staged my house is with throw pillows, rugs and fancy lamps. The pressure is off, ladies. At least in the “all about me” department. Focusing on others might require that we sit and listen without interruption, that we pray with a friend, that we have clean sheets and a comfy couch but it will never require a trip to Hobby Lobby for more throw pillows. Can I get an Amen? Or maybe even a Hallelujah?
All of these things lead me to one truth: to love deeply and offer hospitality we must crucify the flesh daily and resist the urge to expose the sins of another. Instead, we have to take it to God in prayer. Let’s work hard to redefine love based on God’s definitions and not what society tells us it should be.
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9