March 17

Love Covers All
by Ray Prinzing

"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which coverteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."                                                                     (James 5:19-20).

We note the word "hide," from the Greek word "kalupto," meaning TO COVER.  It is also found in 1 Peter 4:8, "Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover a multitude of sins."  While Proverbs 10:12 expands the scope, "Love coverth all sins."  Love will not leave some of the past exposed, and then use it as a reminder that sine once ruled in that life, but LOVE COVERS ALL.  Nor, is there any sin too great to be covered, for "charity never faileth." (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Under the old ministration of the Law there was a continual ministering of all condemnation.  The more one hammered away with the law, the more guilt the people felt when they could not measure up to its standard.  And, because we are still in a transition from the old order of the law and into the new order of the full arrangement of the new covenant, we find that many still cling to a "law ministry," to "cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression." (Isaiah 58:1). And God does use this to restrain people from following a downward course into destruction.  For to be sure, "Open rebuke is better than secret love.  Faithful are the  wounds of a friend." (Proverbs 27:5-6), and often we yet need to be awakened to our need to be cleansed, purified, conformed tot he image of Christ.

But there is also a new ministration, of His overwhelming love, "to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them."  (2 Corinthians 5:19). Not charging them with guilt, for we are to be a witness, not against the sinner, but for the glorious salvation of our God freely given to all men.

Yes, love covers - it hides rather than exposes, it reconciles rather than condemns, and it transforms the unlovely until it becomes radiant with the love which it receives, thus all things become new.