Keeping Record

“… (love) keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:5b NIV

My parents never allowed us to believe in Santa Clause.. Rightfully so… “He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows when you’ve been bad or good – so be good for goodness sake… You better watch out! You better not cry! You better not pout! I’m telling you why… Santa Clause is coming to town.”

Thinking about those lyrics really has me shaking my head.. I can admit, there have been times in life where I treated Jesus as if He were Santa Clause. Imagine..

Thankfully, He is not. We can go to Him. We can cry, I’ve pouted a time or two (or more). And you know what? He loves. He forgives. He’s with us. He’s not keeping track of our faults and failures. That’s what forgiveness is all about…

Not keeping track…

I once dated a guy who seemed to reset every morning. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.. Except, his reset wiped away all of his own wrongdoings, while he kept a running tally of any and every single thing that was done against him.

I never understood this.

We are instructed to forgive so that we too can be forgiven. However, all too often, we keep a running scorecard of wrongs done against us – or wrongs that someone else has done – while expecting others to forgive and forget what we have done.

This shouldn’t be.

Love – real, authentic, true, godly – love keeps no record of wrongs.

No, it doesn’t mean that we just let people get away with harming us. Rather, it’s learning to love like Jesus. Who, nailed to the cross, cried, Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do. Nailed to that cross, taking on the weight of sin for all mankind, for all time, He interceded on our behalf and we gained forgiveness. Not a running score of all of our wrongs.

Jesus leads us to conviction, repentance, forgiveness, love, compassion, mercy, grace… While the enemy leads us to condemnation. There is a difference.

When I consider how I use my words, I want God to move on my heart. I don’t want to use my words to condemn, rather as I speak, to speak life, to speak the truth in love. I don’t want to keep a record of wrongs done against me.

*Original image courtesy of Yours Truly ☀️🌸