1 Peter 4:8 AMP
[8] Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].
The Context and Focus:
Peter wrote the words of today's verse, and as is indicated in the introduction to the book, he writes to both Jews and Gentiles who live as exiles, scattered all over the then Asia, who had been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, sprinkled by the blood, as well as the sanctification done by the Holy Spirit, and who have been called into obedience to Jesus Christ. Every bit of the description of the audience here is very important, as these reflect who we are, what we are, what we have, who lives and controls us, where we are headed, what we have been gifted and placed to achieve, and our eternal reality. It is important to define the audience clearly, so that we know just how much the demands of the verse above relates to us. The journey does not start until there is a personal experience of Jesus. How does God work in and through a life He does not own, hold or control? Of what use can a vessel be, if it is not filled with the person and power of Jesus? These are the questions I need to answer on a personal level, before I can strive to align with the demands of the verse above.
The Message:
If I know who I am, I will not have a challenge with aligning with the commands of God in the verse above. There are attributes that must be found in the lives of people who are described as the audience. Before the verse above, you read words like: 'living in the will of God'; 'being alert and of sober mind'; 'pray'. These are a few of the attributes I need to have. However, I also note that what has been mentioned are mainly internal attributes, not what you would link to external behaviours. It is the inner that defines the outer. Doing the will of God is founded on knowing and following God closely. Being alert and of sober mind means doing all you can to keep the knowledge and experience of Jesus as front and centre of your heart, recognizing who Jesus is, what He wants, and continually filling oneself with that knowledge. I cannot be so focused on the outer, that I neglect to take care of the inner. The inner has to be more important.
The Conclusion:
It is when the inner is sorted out that the outer can make impact. The verse above makes a reference to 'above all', not necessarily that it is more important, but that it is the physical manifestation of the spiritual experience of Jesus. How can I truly love anyone if I do not personally know the Love of God, manifest in Jesus? How can I show the real version, if what I have is the world's version? Love is the language the world sees and can relate to, because the world is in need of the genuine thing. There are many versions of the original, but there can only be one original. God is love, and I can only truly love like God when the love of God lives in me. It is love that helps me overlook faults and not take them to heart. It is love that helps me forgive, seeking the best in and for other people. In a world steeped in greed and selfishness, it is unusual but quite refreshing to find people who live by different standards. It will always cost me something to live by God's standards, but the benefits are actually worth it. Men must see the light and love of God in me, so that they can glorify the Father. Am I loving the way God demands? God's time of favour is here.
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