Stretched Love (1 Peter 4:8)

Above everything else

Peter doesn't list love as one good habit among many. He puts it first: "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly." The word translated "earnestly" pictures a muscle pulled to full stretch. This kind of love takes effort.

Covering isn't hiding

When a brother or sister wrongs you, covering means you don't spread it around. You don't turn it into a story for coworkers or the small group. It doesn't mean pretending nothing happened. Going to that person directly and saying "I think you missed the mark" is part of love too.

No scorecard

Jesus answered "how many times should I forgive?" with seventy times seven. He wasn't setting a limit of 490. He was getting rid of the scorecard. Love also isn't naive. If someone is harming you, you can love and pray for them from a safe place.

Try this

• Before you vent about someone, ask whether you've talked to them first.
• Pray for the person you find hardest to forgive.