During February – this month of Hearts and Love and Friendship – let’s ask ourselves, “Do I love only on my terms or am I willing to choose love when it’s difficult?”
1 Corinthians 13: 4-5, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
It’s impossible for us to pay for our offenses before God, so He freely provided that payment for us.
Isaiah 44:22, I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
When Jesus died on the cross, He made a way for all of our offenses to be swept away. What a relief! What good news! And what does He ask in return?
That we show the same forgiveness to others.
That we keep no record of wrongs,
that we overlook an offense,
that we choose not to talk about an offense.
Proverbs 10:12, Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
Proverbs 19:11, A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 17:9, Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
Mathew 6:12, …and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
God chose not to hold our offenses against us and He wants us to choose not to be offended with others.
We couldn’t do the impossible – save ourselves - so He did it for us. And now, in return, He asks us to do something that’s hard, but not impossible.
Lord, when opportunities arise for me to take offense at others, help me to realize how great my offense would be before You, if not for Jesus. Help me to stop talking about past offenses. Help me not to keep a record of wrongs done to me. Help me to truly show love by forgiving others as I have been forgiven.