The Pilgrim Path---Proverbs 10: 12

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

“LOVE COVERS ALL…”

Hatred is such that it will not let things go. Hatred is aggravating and irritating. Hatred cannot rest. It must assault its object. Hatred must act. The action is contrary to Heaven. Hatred must fume and fuss. Even if it is well heeled and educated---hatred must stir, seethe, and burn most everyone and everything in its path. My, what a Hell on earth is Hatred!

The LORD Jesus Christ came to bear my hatred---and Yours---in His own body and soul upon the Cross of Calvary. What a wonder of wonders: “hatred stirs up strife---but love covers all offenses.” The LORD Jesus really conveys this message, “Lose your life in Mine---and by My Love---I cover ALL your rebellious ways. I even cover your hatred. I will enable you to love your enemies by the power of my Holy Spirit!”

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” First John 4: 10, 11

“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13: 10

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” First Peter 4: 7, 8

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” First John 3: 18

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” Jude 21

From Charles Bridges: Hatred, however varnished by smooth pretense, is the selfish principle of man (Titus 3: 3). Like a subterraneous fire, it continually stirs up mischief, creates or keeps alive rankling coldness, disgusts, dislikes, “envying’s and evil surmising;” carps at the infirmities of others; aggravates the least slip (Isaiah 29: 21); or resents the most trifling, or even imaginary, provocation. These strifes are kindled (Proverbs 15: 18; 16: 27, 28; 28: 25; 29: 22) to the great dishonor of God, and the marring of the beauty and the consistency of the gospel. Is not here abundant matter for prayer, watchfulness, and resistance? Let us study I Corinthians 13 in all its detail. Let it be the looking glass for our hearts, and the standard of our profession.

From John Owen: God tests us to show us what is in our heart. God would have us to see either the grace or corruption that dwells there. Grace and corruption lie deep in the heart, and man is often deceived in the evaluations of his heart. God comes to us with a gauge that can go right to the bottom. His instrument of trial digs deep into the depths and innermost parts of the soul. It allows man to see clearly what is truly in him, and what type of metal he is made of…Until we are tested, we think that we are living on our own strength. It is God alone however who keeps us from falling by his preventing grace.

From John Duncan: We were not lovers, because we were haters. But love could overcome that.

HYMN

Teach us the lesson thou hast taught,

To feel for those thy blood hath bought;

That every word and deed and thought

May work a work for thee.

Godfrey Thring, 1877, Alt. 1961

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason