Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins
Pr 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over/overwhelms all wrongs (breaches of fidelity).{note speech context}

1Jn 4:16 we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him

I. Fervent Love is commanded in light of giving an account to God

Js 2:8  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 
Gal 6:1 My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin/fault, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don't be tempted yourself. 2 You obey/fulfill the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand. CEV

Fervent love (self-sacrificially doing what is in another's highest interest) 1s commanded because our response to another's sin is  usually to criticize, reject, and withdraw, when what we need to do is draw on God's grace to accomplish God's purposes.

II. Fervent Love is preceded by Fervent Purity

1 Pt 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls (mind, will, emotions) for a sincere/non-hypocritical love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart

Obedience purifies; without purified desires, our love is self-serving rather than other-serving. We will serve others, caring more for what they think of us rather than what Christ thinks of us. If we only love within our comfort zone, we will fail to do what is another's best interest. If we just do what is easy, or causes the least grief, we forfeit eternal glory, and wind up in mini-idolatry

III. Fervent Love is Reciprocal

1Jn 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Js 2:1 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  4:17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

We need to demonstrate towards others the same love we desire/demand from them. When we fail to get from others what we think we ought, we fail to give them what we owe them, bringing double judgment upon ourselves.

IV. The Fruit of  Love is Transfromation rather than Tolerance

Mt 8:24 waves. 10:26 Lk 8:16 lamp 23:30  hills 2Cor 4:3  veiled
Js 5:19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Instruct-Train 2Tim 3:16 Scripture profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness 17 equipped for every good work. 

Encourage-Exhort 2Tim 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season: reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and teaching

Admonish 1Thess 5:14 we exhort you, brethren, warn (put in mind) unruly, para-fable the little-souled, uphold the weak, be patient with all

Reprove-Mt 18:15 go show him his fault Jn 3:20 practicing evil hates the light does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed

Rebuke Titus 1:13  This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith 

Restore-Forgive 2Cor 2:7 forgive and encourage, lest be swallowed up with too much sorrow 8 I urge you to reaffirm your love to him 

Reject-Withdraw Titus 3:10  Reject one who choses their own way after the first and second admonition 
2Thess 3:14 if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. If someone is deceived and not being receptive to the Holy Spirit, why should they be receptive to members of Christ's Body?
2. How do you turn someone who has wandered from the Truth, and refuses to look at the map?  Does manipulation differ from persuasion?
3. What does the NT say we should do with disobedient wanderers hiding under the covers? What roles do timing & receptivity play?
4. How does one deal with lack of reciprocity when trying to love another? From whence does unrequited love flow?  2Tim 1:13
5. How receptive are you to Truth? How would God want to use your faithfulness to do a good work in someone's life?

1 Cor 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.