Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 NIV
Earnestly
The arrival of European traders, missionaries, soldiers, and colonists changed the way of life of the original peoples of Canada forever. Large numbers of Aboriginals died of European diseases to which they lacked immunity. However, Aboriginals and Europeans formed strong economic, religious and military bonds in the first 200 years of coexistence which laid the foundations of Canada. European exploration began in earnest in 1497 with the expedition of John Cabot, who was the first to draw a map of Canada’s East Coast.
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Grace is the greatest gift that God offers to those who love and trust Him. We are redeemed and established in our faith by grace, and we walk in grace every day as we fall short of God’s high calling to be perfect as He is perfect. Just as we experience God’s grace, flowing out of His deep love for us, so we are called to offer that grace to others in our lives. The apostle puts it this way in 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” The word Peter uses here for love is the divine word “agape.” This is the love of God for us – fervent, no-strings-attached love. It is that love that we are to offer to others, just as God has offered it to us. No matter what they have said or done that has hurt us, just as we have said and done things that break God’s heart. His agape has covered and washed away our sins. When others sin against us, we are called to offer agape to them as well. When we do, relationship is restored.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley