“Love-sealed” Lips

Verse of the day: Proverbs 17:9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

1 Corinthians 13 outlines for us the characteristics of true love; some of these are that love suffers long, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, and endures all things (this is only a short list from chapter 13). I specifically point these out because they are the ones we need to remember so that we avoid provoking scandals, and gossiping about the transgressions of others, as reminded by today’s verse. We have a good example of what this looks like, in the life of Noah. In Genesis 9, Noah, after coming off of the ark, planted a vineyard. However, the atmosphere had changed after the flood, and upon taking of the grapes (wine) he had grown, he became drunk. As a result of being drunk, he was naked, and his son Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his nakedness and told his brothers, Shem, and Japheth. The two brothers then went into their father’s tent, and walking backward, as to not see his nakedness, covered their father. Shem and Japheth are a great example of those who seek love by covering another’s transgressions. Ham, on the other hand, is a picture of the typical person who gossips, and creates scandal by repeating the transgressions of another. Because of what Ham did, when Noah woke up and knew what had been done, he cursed Canaan, who appears to have had a part in this lack of discretion. Noah curses Canaan by name, and not Ham, so that it is clear that the curse was specific to the lineage of Canaan, and not any other sons that Ham might have afterward (being understood that Ham was included in Noah’s statement as well). Nonetheless, it is this very example that should serve as a warning to us that we need to be careful about what we say in respect to other people’s transgressions, especially amongst God’s people. We need to be reminded that when a brother, or sister, stumble, our response should be one of attempting to reconcile that person back into fellowship with God and His children (Gal 6:1-3). Today’s verse is also speaking of a matter that has been resolved; one that has been repented of, confessed, and forgiven. In other words, “once it’s done, it’s done”. We are in no way being instructed to minimize sin or allow justification for sinful behavior. For there will be occasions when we will learn of someone’s sin and be the only one to know. If we then go to that brother/sister and they repent and get things right, even if the offense is against us, our duty is to forgive and not talk about the offense to anyone else, or to bring it up the next time there is another offense. We are to forgive, as God forgave us in Christ (Eph 4:32). If we fail to seek love in such matters, the end result will be broken relationships. It can cost the friendship between two people, or more, that we may know, or it could divide us from our own best friend(s), and damage precious fellowship within God’s family. This is not what the world needs to see of God’s people. On the contrary, Jesus said that if we love one another as He has loved us, the world will know we are His disciples (John 13:34-35). Let us do all that we can to show one another the kind of mercy and grace given to us.

Note: If the transgression(s) is/are such that it is known by many, and potentially affects the church body, and the party(ies) refuses to repent, confess, and correct the offense, then there is a biblical avenue for dealing with such a one (Matt 18; 1 Cor 5).

The greatest act of love the covered the greatest number of transgressions took place on Calvary. Jesus, save many of us that transgressed in ways that no one but God knows. When He gave us eternal life, He did not broadcast our sins to the world. Instead, He quietly gave us life eternal, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and now we are called to tell others about God’s love and goodness. Call upon Jesus, and receive eternal life by repenting of, confessing your sins, and accepting His free gift of salvation, by faith (Rom 6:23; 10:9; 13).