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“Above all maintain an intense love for each other since love covers a multitude of sins.” I Peter 4:8 (HCSB)

Ever find yourself running for cover? It’s kind of how we’ve all felt – like Eve we instinctively know when we have done something wrong. A stirring in our hearts, a sorrow in our soul. Maybe, just maybe we could run and hide. Cover it all up for no one to see. Or better yet, just pretend it never happened. Has that one ever served us well? Pretending is simply denial and denial always rises back up to the surface just when we least expect it.

Hiding isn’t really hiding – we all know that right? We may think we’ve got them fooled, but the people who know us the best usually see right through our ugly places. And if they really, really love us then they ask those hard questions. Takes courage to love like that. Takes boldness to love like that. Takes humility to love like that. Why? Because we’ve all been there. We’ve all fallen short. We’ve all desperately needed washing from head to toe. We’ve all landed outside the boundaries of obedience and attempted to excuse our way back in.

Praising Jesus for those who roped me back in. Thankful for love that propels hard words that soften my dead heart. Grateful for do-overs and grace that covers exposed, forgiven places. Remembering that intense love hanging on the cross covers all our sin – past, present and future.

Ready to stop running? Tired of trying to cover it all up? Pretending getting old and burdensome? Listen intently to the people who love enough, who care enough to not give up. Then gather at the feet of Jesus, confess what He already knows and allow His love to cover the wrongs we’ve been hiding too long.

“Father, Your love runs deep and wide washing over all our sins – our chains are gone we’ve been set free.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life