Primed To Love

As I understand it, there are secrets to a good paint job - it begins with a good coat of primer paint to cover stains and such. Perhaps one of the toughest things to navigate in this life is ... relationships. While some find the drama entertaining and even relish being in the middle of it, the brokenness of relationships is unsettling and a drain on peace and joy of heart. In 1 Peter 4 the Apostle describes man's natural behavior, apart from Christ: unrestrained, shameless, resentful, critical, selfish, prideful (1 Peter 4:2-5). Just listen to the world's voices of reason and you will surely hear how we are to respond to relationship drama! In contrast, however, God gives specific and simple instruction to His children - His followers who love Him and genuinely seek to honor Him: "Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]." (1 Peter 4:8, AMP). Battered and beaten, the target of insults and mockery, Jesus hung shamefully between two thieves and said, "Father, forgive them" yet [even among Believers] we refuse to hold our tongues in anger while we grasp firmly a prideful and unforgiving spirit. "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses." (Proverbs 10:12, ESV). There it is - the primer of all relationships ... love! Imagine if we looked on others and their unsightly behavior and attitudes toward us through the loving lens of a telescope instead of a microscope. Oh, what a world this would be! Oh, what a different view this world would have of the Saints of God. Let us love one another [and others] with the same passion and warmth by which we have been loved. Because God loved us first, we are ... primed to love!