Love Keeps No Record Of Wrong

 

Love keeps no record of wrongs…. Is that not an AMAZING verse? LOVE keeps NO RECORDS of wrongs. None. I find this aspect of God’s heart amoung the most amazing. That the one who knows us more intimately than any other, even the darkest places we try to hide from peering eyes, even our own eyes, God sees them. He sees them, and STILL can look at us and love us, and hope for the best in us. He knows absolutely all the ways we fail…  all the ways our flesh may get the better of us. But yet, He REFUSES to search out the worst in us and does not have opinions of us set in stone, ya know what I mean?

He’s amazing. And I want to be like that, if that translates. I want to be the type of person that is a minster of grace….. someone who can offer hope for change to the ones the rest of the world has given up hope upon. I want to be like Jesus..  I want to search for the BEST in people. I know that there is darkness in every soul.. I’m not stupid. But I choose to let me eyes search for the light in people and not the dark. I’m grateful I learned that lesson by looking at the way Jesus looks at me.

I’ll be the first to admit it… I’m not perfect. My husband and I joke that I “used” to be perfect til I realized I was then I got proud and pride is a sin and “poof” there went my perfection. So I stand with everyone else who isn’t perfect, but is trying. I stand with those who try, but sometimes fail. I stand also with these same people who are so dependant on God’s grace, and so grateful for it, that from the depths of our heart, that’s what can pour out to others. We may not have perfection, but we have received a grace so perfect it covers everything. And from what we have been given, we also give.

Does that mean we have a “get out of jail pass” to keep on doing what is wrong? nope. Romans 6, 7, 8….  holy cow those are among my favorites and forever life verses for me. If you don’t know them, pick up your word and soak in those verses…. they are awesome.

So what is my point? why are these thoughts on my mind? Because in the past three days I had the opportunity to both extend forgiveness, and also to ask someone for it. I had the opportunity to believe the ABSOLUTE BEST in someone I love…. so I did. And I’m happy I did. I’m closer to them, closer to God because I did. And I choose not to count anything or keep record of anything. I look for the best, and I found it in them. That was my choice.

I’m not going to hold anyone to their past. Because good past or bad past, when Jesus’ blood is applied to it, it’s covered.

So how will this affect you? That’s a favorite question of mine, because EVERYTHING effects us, whether we admit it or not. But meditating on HOW it effects us is rarely done… i’m the type that will ponder things and ask “how does that change me?” So I’m asking you, since you read all this, how are you going to let it effect you?

Do you keep record of wrongs? Do you look for the best in people and expect it from them, or the worst. Do you assume that every sin will be repeated by the offender? Do you have grace to extend to the offender that is SO GRACIOUS, it lifts them out of the pit? God does. What will you do with the knowledge that love keeps no record of wrongs? Are you going to choose to stand on the side of love, or choose to repeat the accusations brought before the judge? Whose witness in God’s court will you be?

You may be saying now… but they ARE guilty. Hands down I know it for a fact. Okay fine. let’s paint the picture and create the scene. We are standing in a court room.. God the Father sits at the judgement seat, ready to weigh justly everything spoke in the court room. up first, the prosecution. Satan comes before God, smug and confident because he knows the rules. sin is sin and sin will be punished.
“If it would please the court, I will PROVE beyond doubt that this soul has sinned. I will present evidence SO damming, that the court will have no choice but to declare the accused guilty. I offer evidence to the sin and offense that can not be refuted. This soul has been selfish beyond measure, foolish beyond even the most foolish of men….. “
…on and on he rambles off the list of guilt and sins, one after the other, providing proof, eyewitness after eyewitness, the offended, the hurt, the wounded all left in the accused’s wake of destructive behavior and selfish living. With each testimony, the accused’s head hangs lower. There’s no way out. They are guilty and they know it. their only hope is that somehow, the Advocate Jesus can convince the Judge of innocense.

Finally, Satan steps down, turning to Jesus saying, “the floor is all yours. Good luck… you’ll need a miracle!”

Jesus steps forward. If it will please the court, I will now prove beyond doubt that everything the prosecuter has presented about the accused…….. is true. Furthermore, I will present evidence that the witnesses here to the best of their ability, have spoke truthfully of the offense the accused has caused.

Satan bursts out of his seat! “HE’s MINE… I WIN!!!”

The Judge raps his mighty gavel… “I PRONOUNCE JUDGEMENT Satan, NOT you!” He then turns to Jesus…  “is your defense of the accused complete?”

“No your honor, My blood will now speak in the behalf of the accused. My wounds will verify the price has been paid. The stripes upon my back declare that restitution has been made. Though this soul has stood accused of sin, I present to the court that the penality for the sin has been paid in full. I have covered the debt against the accused and the proof of payment is my blood shed, applied to the accused. I now rest my case… we are at the grace of the court.”  and Jesus sits.

Silence falls.. the angels hush. The saints don’t even blink. The witnesses for the prosecution are bewildered. And Satan Jumps to his feet!! “WE DEMAND THE ACCUSE PAY FOR HIS DEBT!!” The Father slowly responds, “the debt has been paid in full. Those who choose to accept the blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of Christ given to the accused may step forward, exchange their offense for the blood and leave richer for having forgiven their offenses. Those who choose not to receive the blood of Jesus as payment for this souls sins against them are free to go, leaving with their offense, but this matter will not be retried in my court.” Court is adjurned.

 

SOOOO….  where are you gonna stand? will you allow the blood of Jesus to cover what Jesus himself says he will cover? Will you let the accused in your life walk away innocent, though proven guilty, cause that’s what we are you know. Innocent, though we were proven guilty. You. Me. Them, they and we. All of us together. Innocent, though proven guilty. Amazing isn’t it?

So have you been offended? Has your heart suffered at the hands and actions of another? Is your offense holding them in a jail cell, making them day in and day out within your mind wear the clothing of the guilty… are you clothing your thoughts of them in the orange jumpsuit of the guilty inmate, or in the red robes of Jesus blood and righteousness? When you think of them now, what color do they wear? We the offended, the wounded, the wronged, have a powerful part to play in the redemption of the guilty. Do we walk around with the whole “wrong me once shame on you, wrong me twice shame on me” attitude that says I’m never gonna let you hurt me this way again! Can I just whisper a secret in your ear…. [those aren't God's thoughts]…….  did ya catch that? I hope so. Because God’s heart is a little bit more on the “70×7″ way of thinking. And let me clue you in… you’ll never ever be offended by the same person 70×7 times because if you are the type to keep TRACK of just how many times that person has offended you …  I’m betting they will cut themselves out of your life because you are so unloving that you really won’t have to worry about them offending you anymore.

So let’s give each other the grace and the space to be changed! Let’s believe that God is absolutely able to change our offender without our involvement in monitoring their “redemptive” process. God’s probably got things under control but i’m sure if he needs a hand he’ll call you.

Okay. I’m done now. If I’ve offended you in anyway, please allow Jesus to change me and in the meantime, know I’m sorry.