Love... Keeps No Record Of Wrongs
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble…
Hebrews 12:15 (ESV)
If God wipes our slates clean with His Own Blood and opts to forgive AND FORGET our sins,* who are we, as Christians, to hold a grudge?
Are we now perfected in holiness? No! God finishes the job when we leave Earth.
Haven't we committed our share of sins? Yes! And if we break only one, we’re guilty.**
Do baptized Christians still sin every day? Yes! If we think we don’t, we’re living a lie.***
Then why are believers stuck in reverse? Why do we let our minds travel backwards?
Consider the amazing path of Paul: a Christian-hunting, grievously-erring, famously-changing, tirelessly-working, affliction-bearing, steadfastly-moving, zealously-speaking, radiantly-writing missionary!
What did Paul say about backward glances?
'Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 3:12-14, NKJV).
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
Like God and Paul, don’t keep “records” of wrongs. Don’t ruminate on how people hurt you. Don’t ruminate on your own past mistakes.
Forgiveness is a no-fail commandment: a mind-decision you speak and you write. (NOTE: You don’t have to “feel” it. Just do it. It empowers the healing of your heart!
Forgetting is a godly suggestion: a mind-discipline that requires practice. (NOTE: You can’t forget an offense completely. Put it in a “mind-drawer” and close it. You’ll free yourself from re-living the wrong.)
Your best life requires looking forward, not back.
Love Keeps No Record Of Wrongs (Part 18)
* 'I'll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins' (Hebrews 10:17, The Message).
* 'I, even I, am The One Who wipes out your transgressions for My Own sake, and I will not remember your sins' (Isaiah 43:25, NASB).
* 'Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to The Cross' (Colossians 2:14, NIV).
** James 2:10 Commentaries: James 2:10 Commentaries: For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
*** ‘If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us’ (1 John 1:1-10).
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re all called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re all called to models of Jesus, and we all have gifts, talents, and a commission to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend DAILY BIBLE READING.
WARNING: Don’t focus on your favorite verses, because taken out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!