Celebrities caught in a nefarious misdeed look into the camera and say—I’m sorry—even though it’s obvious they aren’t sorry at all, only sorry they got caught. As if the magic words I’m sorry diffuse the air of all wrongs. No one falls for shallow apologies.

Like famous folks, we all attempt to cover our sin by mollifying those we’ve sinned against. Perhaps we buy their forgiveness with money or gifts. Often we rely on fast talking to get us out of a jam. I like to play the victim card. It’s really not my fault—blame my bad acts on neglectful teachers or hateful bosses or junk food. The devil made me do it.

The Bible shares a different perspective on the way to treat each other when we rub in not-so-good ways:

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Peter, the writer, addressed a group of people living and worshipping in close proximity. These folks endured a challenging era, facing daily insults and threats due to their new-found faith. With plenty of opportunities to get on each other’s nerves, he called for hospitality layered with service and prayer.

Under stress, nerves grow raw and words come quick. People clamp down and seek to control. In such situations sincere love soothes the jangles. Knowing that others in my community look to me with love helps me overlook comments I might otherwise misconstrue.

I can’t help but sin at times, just like my brothers and sisters. But by experiencing a depth of love infused through the Holy Spirit, we may move beyond the petty and into the deeper issues life presents.

1 Peter 4 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Sean Mungur