Daily
Devotional

Recently, our Sunday school teacher referred to today’s focus verse during a class session. My attention was caught by the word “cover” and throughout the remainder of the day, my mind repeatedly drifted back to the verse and the meaning of that word.  

I mused that “cover” has a good connotation for me. Not long ago, I had the delightful privilege of putting my eighteen-month-old grandson to bed. After a few last cuddles, his drooping eyelids indicated that sleep was not far away, so I laid him gently in his crib. Then I took his favorite blanket from where it was folded on the side of his crib, and covered him up. Chubby legs, round tummy, and sweet little dimpled hands all disappeared underneath the soft folds of camouflage-printed fleece. When I picture my precious grandson in his crib, the word “covered” has a warm, snuggly, protected sense.

At first glance, this admonition by Peter to the Early Church may seem to lack the warm feeling evoked by thinking of covering a dear grandchild. After all, it refers to covering a “multitude of sins”—not exactly a pretty picture! However, as I continued to ponder, I thought about the beauty and warmth contained in the words “fervent charity.” Peter was encouraging these believers to have warm love for one another as Christians. When that love was present, the shortcomings (translated as “sins” in this verse) of others would be shielded with grace, compassion, and mercy.  

Very likely, every one of us has stumbled upon the shortcomings of a Christian brother or sister at some time. Perhaps a comment has wounded our feelings, or we feel we have been disrespected or slighted in some way. It may be tempting to allow ourselves to “see” that seeming slight—to consider it, to dwell upon it, to ascribe some motive to the behavior. However, Peter was pointing us to another course of action. He tells us to have charity—to allow the covering of brotherly love to overspread the troubling circumstance and eliminate our view of it.  

Slights will happen, intended or not. Hurtful events will occur. When they do, we face a choice: Will we focus on the offense? Or will we take up the covering of grace, and lay it gently over the event, purposing that “charity shall cover”? God will help us, if that is our desire. And that action will be pleasing to Him.