Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.

Proverbs 10:12 (ESV)

Have you ever won an argument by showing hatred toward someone? As Christians, we are taught to be loving, no matter who we might have a quarrel with. Loving people is willing to put up with insults or slander. They can also forgive those who wrong them. Hatred causes only more problems. You won’t make progress in a relationship with someone by showing hate toward them.

Jesus’ love covers all of our sins. His act of love saved us from death caused by sin. 1 Peter 4:8 says, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” No matter how broken your past is, Jesus will always love you. We should have that kind of love toward others.

Our love for people should not have any hint of hatred behind it. Even though people insult or hurt us, we still love them and show forgiveness, just as Jesus does with all of us. We love because Jesus loved us first. If we do that, there will be less strife and more progress of moving forward as a church to spread the gospel.

Hatred keeps alive the old feeling of revenge, and seeks opportunities of satisfying itself. However, love puts aside, forgets and forgives all offenses against it. That kind of love imitates the pardoning love and grace of God, which covers all the sins of his people with the blood and righteousness of his Son. Love spreads over the sins of both Christians and non-Christians, and forgives all of them. It doesn’t expose them, hides and conceals them, but instead puts the best constraints on them, hopes and bears and believes all things.

This week, pray for someone who is troubling you. Meditate on a way you can show love toward them without any buried feelings of hatred against them.