It happens more often than I would like. I cut wrapping paper for a Christmas gift, but I didn’t cut enough when I go to wrap the gift. The paper will not fully cover the gift. The gifts are bigger than the amount of paper. So, I either have to patchwork the wrap or cut another piece of paper to use. Knowing the size of the gift and measuring the right amount of paper is an important skill when it comes to wrapping gifts.
In 1 Peter 4:8, we read, “love covers a multitude of sins.” There is no doubt that the sins in our lives can be many. A day doesn’t go by that we don’t fall into sin in one form or another. Our thoughts, our words, and our actions can often be labeled as sinful. Sin is choosing other than God’s way to live our lives. We are all guilty of falling short of God’s intention for our lives. Saint Ambrose was the Bishop of Milan, a theologian, and one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. Ambrose once wrote, “Many a sin has sullied me in body and in soul because I did not restrain my thoughts nor guard my lips: nevertheless, it is to Thee, O God of majesty and love, that I turn in my extremity, for Thou art the fount of mercy; to Thee, as quickly as I may, I speed: for Thou alone canst heal me; I take refuge under Thy protection.”
The good news of God’s love is that it covers a multitude of sins. Regardless of how great or large our sin may seem; God’s love will always be greater. We have received, as the Apostle Paul would suggest, “grace upon grace.” (John 1:16) God can wrap our sin in His love. And when sin is wrapped in God’s love, then it is completely forgiven. Not in part, but entirely.
God demonstrates His love for us most clearly in the cross of Jesus. On the cross, Jesus took our sin upon himself and bore our iniquity. The cross of Jesus is sufficient to forgive us of all our sins. God doesn’t need to come back and rewrap our sin because our Lord’s blood covers a multitude of sins. (James 5:20) God’s love in Jesus Christ is enough.
Hence, we do not have to live our lives burdened by sin and guilt because it has all been forgiven. We only need to receive this most remarkable gift. We don’t have to get our lives all put together to receive God’s love, but God loves us even in our sin. Yet, God’s love will not leave us in our sin, but God’s love will heal us and make us whole. God is an expert wrapper because God is love.
Conversations from the Couch 