From the Home Place

July 28, 2026

Greetings Friends! Within the last week, we have received more rain than we’ve had all summer; A little over a 1/2″ this week! We are very grateful for His kindness.

In 1 Peter 4:8 we read, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” I find it interesting that Peter, guided by the Holy Spirit, writes, “Above all.” I would say that how we love one another is the top priority of things we can do as Christians. Could it be that it is impossible to “love one another” apart from the working of the Holy Spirit actively working within our spirit? As such, we have to be walking in the shadow of Jesus to really “love one another.”

Jesus said it this way, “They will know that you are My disciples by your love for one another.” We can go to church, we can do our devotions every day, we can give large sums of money to missionaries, but without love we are just making noise. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 we find the qualities of biblical love. Yet, even in this passage there seems to be a summary, “love never fails.” There are many other places where the Bible tells us that “love” is the top priority of the Christian faith.

So, how are we doing? Do we speak to “one another” with love. Even more importantly, do we speak about “one another” with love??? If the people around us know that we love Jesus because of the way we talk about “one another,” what do people around us think of Jesus? Does following Jesus change lives, or does it just keep us extra busy?

Back to 1 Peter 4:8, the second part of this verse states, “love covers a multitude of sins.” I can’t say for you, but I sure am glad that Jesus loves me because His love sure enough has covered a “multitude” of my sins! I wonder, because Jesus loves me enough to forgive my sins, maybe Peter is saying that I should allow that same love to flow through my life as I forgive those who have sinned against me? After all, love does “cover a multitude of sins.”

For today, how about we love someone else who isn’t all that lovable, just like Jesus loves us? After all, there are plenty of times that I’m not all that lovable myself, but He still loves me. The theme seems to be that whatever we have received from Jesus, we are supposed to pass along to someone else; and not just on Sunday!

Loving others as we have been loved with you, Neal