1 Peter 4:7-11 (TPT) Prayer and Love
7 Since we are approaching the end of all things, be intentional, purposeful, and self-controlled so that you can be given to prayer.
8 Above all, constantly echo God’s intense love for one another, for love will be a canopy over a multitude of sins.
In our passage today, I am left pondering the intentional love of God laid down for us as his children. Therefore, it is our response to that love that we be equally as intentional, purposeful, and self-controlled with our commitment to pray for one another; all believers because Satan uses our human weakness for his advantage to get us to disobey God. Peter knows what it is like to be “sifted like wheat” by Satan and feel unworthy of the love of Christ, yet because of the restorative work of grace, he urges God’s children to focus on echoing God’s love as a protective act. The word “echo” is translated “to be so closely joined with something that you become its echo.” In other words, we become so connected to Christ that we replicate his forgiveness and love toward one another. Committing and growing in prayer and love are a part of getting us ready for Christ’s return, as well as serves as an enclosure (canopy) which covers and conceals our sin as the Spirit brings restoration from the inside out.
Prayer: Father, thank you for covering me with your love. Help me to use love to cover others while you are working deep within all your children. I want to be an encourager of your pure love while not being an enabler for promoting sinful acts. In Jesus’ name. Amen.