Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 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. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Thoughts
As we slowly make our way through this passage about love, we've kind of hit the middle today, and boy is it a hard one! Love keeps no record of wrongs!
What this means for me is that love and forgiveness go hand in hand. Is it even possible to truly love without forgiveness I wonder?
Love doesn't hold a grudge. It doesn't constantly remind people of how they've failed. It doesn't get bitter or stay angry or gossip about people when they hurt you. Love forgives.
However - in order to have love that keeps no record of wrongs, we must have love that confronts when offended, and then forgives. It's not like he is saying, just get over it! No. All relationships will have ups and downs, but a healthy one will deal with the issues that arise.
So love confronts. If we really love someone we will tell them when they hurt us. If we really love someone we will explain how being treated or spoken to like that isn't ok. And then we'll work through repentance and forgiveness. And then.....we will keep no record of wrongs.
See, it's a process. Love calls us into healthy relationships where we are honest about our feelings, and when we get hurt, we work it out and find forgiveness. A lack of love just ignores hurts, stifles feelings, and eventually starts to keep a record of wrongs.
Prayer
Help me to walk in healthy, honest, open relationship with others - and to offer forgiveness when needed!