He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9
Dear Lord Jesus, rarely does the phrase “cover-up” do anything but raise suspicion, eyebrows, ire. Appropriately, we recoil when we experience the manipulation of facts, the minimization of harm and the muting of our voices… especially in the face of blatant injustice. To be either an agent or victim of this kind of cover-up is never okay.
That being said, there’s a stewardship of information—a way of handing one another’s failures, sins and weaknesses that’s a delicate art and requires a gospel heart. There is such a thing as a “gospel cover-up,” and I want to be much better at it. So as I meditate on this Scripture here’s my confession and my prayers…
Forgive me when I choose to uncover and use old offenses against my spouse, my children or friends… just to win an argument, gain an advantage or minimize my own sin. It’s as though I never really forgave them the first time.
Forgive me when I repeat someone’s offence to another friend… or a number of friends, under the guise of seeking prayer, when in reality, I’m just gossiping… perhaps even slandering people I claim to care about. How insecure and insidious is that?
Forgive me when I keep uncovered and constantly rehearse the sins and offenses of others to myself—feeding my self-righteousness… fueling my “mannish” anger… and fermenting my desire for revenge. How ugly is that?
Forgive me when I constantly repeat my own failures to myself—choosing to indulge my self-contempt and the accusations of Satan much more than I believe and relish the gospel. What a destructive way to do life… robbing you of much glory.
Jesus, you are the greatest promoter of love ever, for by your blood you have once and for all covered-up… covered-over… and carried-away my sins forever. You will not, no never, repeat my foolish, fiendish, fickle matters to me or anyone else. How I praise you today for your irrepressible love for me. Continue to change my heart and channel my words… by your grace… for your glory… and the good of others. So very Amen, I pray, in your holy and kind name.
