When we think about Scripture's command to love our neighbors, we often think about caring for people we already love. We think about our neighbors across the street who have become like family or those who have shown kindness to us. Scripture, however, teaches that loving our neighbors goes far beyond loving people whom we naturally love. Loving our neighbors also means loving people who think differently than we think. It means loving people with different political views than we have. It means loving the people around us who do not often show kindness to us. There is no exception to this command to love others.
In the book of 1 Peter, Peter reminds readers that the end of life on earth is imminent. Christ is coming soon, and this world is fading away faster than we could realize. The question is, what do we do in the meantime? According to Peter, we are to "continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins" (verse 8). While we wait for Christ to return to earth, Peter instructs us to love the people around us. Why? This love demonstrates Christ's love for them. When we love with the love of Christ, we get to show them a glimpse of just how much God loves them. We also get to demonstrate God's love to the rest of the world, who is watching us, and how we treat the people around us. This is how we wait for Christ to return.
Notice that in 1 Peter 4:8, there are no exceptions in this verse of who to love or when we can show love. This means that we are to love difficult people. We are to love even if we do not feel like it. It means that there is never a time we are exempt from showing love. As we show love, we will find the end of 1 Peter 4:8 to be true: "love covers a multitude of sins."
Is there a category of people to who you are having a hard time showing love right now? Maybe it is people who think differently about politics than you think or have different views of wearing masks than you have. Whatever group of people come to mind for you who are difficult to love, these are your neighbors, too. Step out in some way to show love to that person today. Let them know that God loves them through your words and actions.
So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.
The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
