September 2025
“Show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
-1 Peter 4:8
Devotional
(The following devotional is based on something I read long ago, but I have not been able to find the source for proper attribution. My thanks to the original author; I wanted to share this with you this month.)
Imagine that you are standing in a great, silent hall. Before you is the Seat of Judgment. To your right, a figure with a cold, piercing gaze presents a meticulous scroll detailing every failure, every lie, every unkind thought. You are laid bare, exposed, and utterly condemned by the weight of your own actions. There is no defense to be made, for the accusations are true.
As the final, damning words are read, the sense of hopelessness is suffocating. But then, from the periphery, a warm, bright light expands into the space. A host of angels, not in an army for battle but in a chorus of testimony, ascend. Their movement is not for combat but for advocacy. They do not dispute the charges; they hold up your life as evidence of a single, redeeming truth.
The first angel speaks, "Lord, his record is filled with failure." But a second angel follows, proclaiming, "But he loved!". The accuser details your moments of doubt, and a third angel responds with, "But he loved!" They recount the times you stumbled and turned away, but for every blemish, an angelic voice affirms, "But he loved!”
They are not ignoring your sin. They are testifying to a divine love at work in you—a love that is not of your own merit, but a reflection of the love you received from God. The love in you, however small or imperfect, is the undeniable evidence of God's Spirit dwelling within you. And, as the Scriptures attest, love covers a multitude of sins.
This is the heart of the Gospel. Our salvation is not a negotiation based on our performance, but a declaration based on Christ's sacrifice. Jesus’ death on the cross satisfied the judgment we deserve, and through faith, we are covered by his righteousness. When the accuser comes, our defense is not our good works, but the blood of Christ.
The love the angels speak of is not mere human love, but the love that God himself initiated within you. Your imperfect but sincere love for God and others, born out of gratitude for your salvation, is a testament to the Holy Spirit's redemptive work. In the heavenly courtroom, it is not your perfect behavior that saves you, but the simple fact that you received and spread God's love. Let us then recommit to living in that spirit, eager to love, and surrendering our hearts daily to God.
Yours in Christ’s love,
Pastor Matthew
Prayer
Holy God, when I feel the heavy burden of sin and hear the voice of condemnation, teach me to remember God's overwhelming love. Thank you for sending Jesus to be my advocate. Salvation comes from you, Lord. Spirit of God, stir up a love in me that overflows, even amidst weakness. Let that love be a constant reminder of your presence, a testament in the face of all accusation, and a testimony to the world of your goodness. Thank you for your unconditional love. Amen.