THE MOST POWERFUL DETERGENT

I had a wonderful friend who was taken into glory at a very tender age. We had our good times, but as is common with most friendships, we had our bad days as well. Yet in the face of death, I sat down to ponder and to see if I could recollect anything I held against my friend. I had a sheet of paper in my hand, but believe me; there was nothing I put down on that sheet. As the cruelty of death stared me in the face, I realised that the love I had for my friend was all that remained, nothing she had done wrong mattered again. Indeed, LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SIN: 1Peter 4:8 

The love of God is so strong that it moved Him to send His only begotten Son to die for us a shameful death that cleanses us from all sin. God’s love has served as a detergent in the sinful lives of men. Our sin, as stains on us, are wiped off with the simple act of love that Jesus showed to us on the cross. 1John 3:16a declares

‘ hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us.’ We live in a world where we often collide with offences. Some people deliberately offend us, whilst others offend us without even knowing. Offences can lead to bitter feelings which can defile us – Hebrews 12:15. The antidote for bitterness is having God’s love so fill our hearts that no offence can survive in our presence. If we allow God’s love to emanate from us, it will serve as a detergent that will wipe off offences and prevent bitter feelings. Just as Steven, we will be able to say of them that offend us – ‘‘Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.’’ And like Jesus, we shall say of them that persecute and cause us pain – ‘‘Forgive them, for they know not what they do.’’ 

The truth is, if we learn not to directly attack the people that offend us. If we will allow ourselves to grasp the understanding that they attack us in their ignorance, and perceive who is actually behind the offences – the power of evil – we will then learn to fight situations that offend us with weapons that are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Love is an example of such a non-carnal weapon. The love of God causes offences to become bearable. It covers multitudes of sin. When we get to a stage where we live in love, we shall feel less offended, and should we even be offended, love will enable us handle it appropriately. 1John 3:14-16 admonishes us to love our brethren as this depicts we have passed from death to life; that we understand Christ’s sacrifice for us; and have a deeper revelation of God’s love. 

In conclusion, we must lay our lives down for others, as Steven did by emulating Christ. Love is the key to opening this sacrificial lifestyle. It causes us to see beyond the evil men do to us, and equips us to show kindness in spite of offences. Love is not easily provoked, suffers long and bears all things.