ESOCS Devotional 1 December 2021
TEXT: PROVERBS 17:3-9
MEMORY VERSE: “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love …” (Proverbs 17:9a KJV)
To “cover” transgression is to forgive it, and forgiveness is associated with love. The best example of love that covers sin is Jesus’ sacrificial death on our behalf. Jesus’ prayer from the cross, “Father, forgive them,” says it all (Luke 23:34).
There are a number of ways that love covers transgression.
* Love covers transgression by passing over offenses. Sometimes a person shows love by ignoring those minor offenses committed against him.
* Love covers transgression by forgiving it. When a brother apologizes for what he has done that is wrong, love reciprocates by forgiving him. He does not hold a grudge or seek revenge. He forgives the offense.
* Love covers transgression by recognizing the mitigating circumstances. Sometimes the one who has offended us is experiencing some terrible things in his life. He is “not himself”’; that is, this is not his usual conduct toward me. Love enables me to take those mitigating circumstances into consideration and overlook his offense.
* Love covers sin by confronting the sinner and calling him to repentance. Frequently, we only see how love passes over sin. However, when the two parts of this proverb are contrasted, “covering sin” is the opposite of “stirring up strife.” By calling the sinner to account for his ways, love leads him to obtain God’s forgiveness and that of those sinned against.
By calling these to mind, perhaps we can work towards making our homes more peaceable. Peace in the church calls us to under-accuse, over-repent, and over-forgive. Let us not be afraid to call sin, sin, but let us not be slow to forgive it and to look past it.
The Pulpit Commentary says, “Hatred keeps alive the old feeling of revenge, and seeks opportunities of satisfying it; but love puts aside, forgets and forgives all offences against itself.” Seek love – choose to forgive and conceal the fact that they’ve blown it. That is seeking love.
- Mention the various ways by which you can cover your neighbours’ sins.
- Lord God, help me to overlook offences in order to maintain love and peace.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Proverbs 14:29; 16:6 -8; Ecclesiastes 12:1-8
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ESOCS Devotional 1 December 2021
