#LoveCovers

#LoveCovers
Kirk Whalum is an amazing saxophonist. If I ever really learn to play my saxophone, I’d like to sound like him. His latest album is called #lovecovers. This title is a double-entendre. "Covering” a song is when a musician performs the songs of another artist. So the album features Whalum covering some great Gospel and inspirational songs by other artists. The album also features a theme of the love of God and love for one another throughout. So these songs are covers of love songs but the album also seeks to convey the message that love covers. 

The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober minded for prayer. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength that God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 


1 Peter 4:7-11 (CSB)

​

Love Covers
One of the great mental traps that we often fall into as believers in relating to one another looks something like this: We tend to judge others by their actions while expecting others to judge us by our motives. That is, we judge others by what we perceive that they did or did not do while simultaneously expecting others to judge us by what we tried to do or what our intentions were. This is understandable as the concrete actions of others are usually pretty obvious. What often isn’t so obvious is the “why” when someone does something we don’t agree with or care for. Being gracious enough to take the time to understand the why something was done will often help us to deal with the how something was done in a more God-honoring way. 


The above verses give such clear instruction on how we should serve each other as believers. Following them faithfully will eliminate much of the strife we experience in doing ministry. We have an imperative that we should live under as believers and it is found in verse 7. Our time is so very limited here. We shouldn’t waste it in bickering and fighting over carnal affairs. We should serve God and one another with pure motives and patient love. Patient love will help us to see past the carnal things that so easily distract and offend us.


We’ve been given a gift. We should freely share our gifts with others. Christ has been hospitable to us, we should share hospitality with others. When we have to speak to one another, speak as you believe that God would speak. When we serve, make sure it is in such a way that God gets all the glory. The love of Jesus has covered us. Let us steward that grace and cover each other because love covers.