“Love… it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Have you ever wondered if someone had a recorded list of all the things you ever done? Believe it or not, they do...and as for me, I have a perfect memory when I think about wrongs done to me. It was today my boyfriend and I were in the car leaving church service... we were having a conversation and in light of the conversation I brought up something that happened months ago, particularly a wrongdoing. Now mind you, he had apologized for what I brought up, but its evident that I was still hanging on to his record of wrong. While I didn't have a written document, the record of the wrongdoing remained with me in my head. For him, he thought I was over it because in the car he said "God is not a I remember when God". After hearing him say this, I was reminded of what the bible says, “Love keeps no record of wrongs.” I don't know about you, but when I really think about what those words mean – keeps no record of wrongs... the words 'not forgiving' came to mind. Mind you again, my boyfriend and I were not having an argument on this day, but there have been times where we have gotten into arguments, and I bring up things that he has done wrong. And if I can be honest, I'm sure he can tally up things I have done and said as well.

Here's a question for us: What If God kept a record of our wrongdoings? What if every time we do something wrong, God adds it to a list? I don't know about you, but if God were to keep a record of my wrongs, I could not survive! But I thank Him for wiping out my sin record! Truth is, God doesn't keep a record of our sins when we ask for forgiveness. Isaiah 43:25 says, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins... It is because God loves us so much, that He does not keep a record of our sins. Romans 4:8 also tells us, “Blessed is the man who sin the Lord will NEVER count against him”. 

Speaking of God's love, forgiveness is an expression of love. In 1 Corinthians 13, which is referred to as the love chapter, the Apostle Paul talks about love... but in this post I want to focus at the every end verse 5 where Paul points out that love "keeps no records of wrongs". Here we see that not only does Paul describe love, but he also tells us what love is not... and he also shows us this is the way we are to relate to anyone. We are not to keep a record of others wrongdoings so it can be brought up at some future time and thrown back into someone's face to be used against them. Paul is saying that love never records a wrong...whether or not these wrongs were done intentionally or unintentionally.

In speaking of love, we may as well ask, are we really willing to love??? After all, that's what love is. Love doesn't hold records of wrongs against another. That said, until we give up keeping score, we are incapable of expressing love. We will also be destined to live in the failures of the past. Perhaps you have a record of wrong doing on your spouse, children, parents, other family members, or church family but as believers, we should forgive and forget! Not only that, but we should also keep in mind that if we are still holding on to others records of wrongs, we have missed the point of God's love. Note: If God keeps no record on us, how can we keep a record on others.

Prayer 

Lord help us all to forget and forgive the records we have kept on others, and thank you, Lord, for not keeping a record of our sins. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness. - Psalm 130:3:4

...But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:26

Give it up for.....

It was this evening, I was on the phone talking with a friend, while also trying to watch BET's 'The Game'. While talking, a commercial came on, and during this time I figured I would give him my undivided attention. However, while the commercial was on, I got side tracked when I heard the man from TV say "I want to give it up for good..." After hearing this, it made me think how we, as believers should want to give up things for good, or shall I say give up things for God...particularly that sin or sinful habits that is keeping us from Christ. I know last week or so before this post, I talked about not giving up on God, but in this post, I want to talk about giving up sin, but not just for good, but for God! I John 3:4-6 tells us...Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. Verse 6 then tells us that "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him."  

Sin defined, is disobedience or rebellion against God. Sin is also defined as unrighteousness. I John 5:17 says, “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not leading to death” (I John 5:17). The truth is, we are all guilty of sin...but there's also the truth that God hates sin and as believers, we must hate what God hates and learn to love obedience.  In the bible, there are a great many kinds of sins, and there are many verses about sin. In Galatians 5:19-20, Paul lists seventeen sins of the flesh which is “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like”.  And it is here we see that the works of the flesh is not just physical sins. In 1 John 2:16, sin is described as coming from three sources: lust of the flesh (gluttony, lust, sloth), lust of the eyes (greed), and pride of life (pride, envy, anger). However, Romans 8:8-9 reads, "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon tells us about the things or sins that God hates. For example, Proverbs 6:16-19 reads, “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 1) haughty eyes, 2) a lying tongue, 3) hands that shed innocent blood, 4) a heart that devises wicked schemes, 5) feet that are quick to rush into evil, 6) a false witness who pours out lies, and 7) a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”

Here we see that the bible describes sin in many ways that is not just confined to external sins. Not only that, but everyone also experiences the seven deadly sins such pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth in daily life...but as believers, we are to live our lives in a way that brings glory to God. I understand that sin is all around us, and within us, but, we should aim at being Christ-like. In 2 Corinthians 13:11, the bible even tells us to aim for perfection. If we are honest, most of us can agree that we know the good we are supposed to do, but yet there are times we choose to sin and fall short of God's perfect standard. As for me, I don't claim to be sinless... and you too shouldn't claim to be sinless for 1 John says, “If we claim to be without sin, we lie and the truth is not in us...BUT if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

As we're on the subject of sin, did you know that we can also sin in our heart and mind...and yet never commit an obvious act of sin? I don't know about you, but even after becoming saved, I myself thought it was innocent to think about certain sins, since I was sure I'd never take part in the actual sin...but that was a mistake. It is true that sin begins both in our heart and mind. This is why we should always ask God to search our heart...and mind. Psalm 139:23-24 says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life". For example, many of us like to comfort ourselves with the fact we haven't committed certain external sins... but what about those internal sins that are hidden in our heart and mind, or our attitude towards those who commit sin? The truth is, all sins, no matter what it is separates us from God. This is why Jesus tells us in Matthew 15:19, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Again I say, this is why we should regularly ask God to search our heart because in asking Him, we are inviting Him to open our heart so we may receive conviction of the Holy Spirit. 
 
Colossians 3:5-10 tells us "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator....Let us also not forget what 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new".... If you are not sure if you're in Christ, look at your life.
 
CONCLUSION

Sin is everywhere and all around us. But as I've previously stated, God hates sin! He hates every sin and that should be enough of a reason for us to give up sin, that is unacceptable to Him. Acts 3:19 says, "So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven." Whatever the sin, we need to focus our attention on giving up that sin. Take a moment and think about how God demonstrated His love to us. To show His love, God did something totally incredible...He gave up His only begotten son to die for us, to pay for our sins. I don't know about you, but if God can give up his only begotten son, we can choose to give up sin to demonstrate our love to Him. The key to giving up sin fasting, praying ,reading the bible, and attending church, and bible study. Not only that, but Jesus will help those who want to give up sin. Remember, we can do nothing on our own, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)  With respect to the sinning of the non-believers, we must remember that it is God's desire for all people to be SAVED!

Let there be No Excuses!

It is amazing what excuses my clients make and give for not doing what I am asking them to do to be reunified with their children. It was this morning I was in court for a dispositional hearing to evaluate the parent's progress towards reunification. However, due to the parent's lack of progress, or should I say because of their excuses for lack of readiness to be a parent, the judge closed the case. At the conclusion of the hearing, and before closing the case I heard the judge say to my clients "I'm getting tired of the excuses." After hearing the judge say this, it made me wonder if God ever grow tired of unbelievers making excuses for not coming to Christ. Like my clients, we are constantly pursuing interests other than what's really important.

"And they all with one consent began to make excuses."

Today, people have all sorts of excuses why they do not want to come to Christ. While people have many different reasons for not coming to Christ, and accepting him into their heart...I would like to note that these excuses are not reasons, but excuses. These excuses can range from, the timing is inconvenient, not being ready to give up certain things, still want to enjoy life, and have a good time... and if I can be honest, these are the excuses of my clients. But James 4:14 tells us, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."  While I am always amused by the different excuses they come up with, I remember before I became saved, I too had an excuse. In the parable of the Great Banquet, found in Luke 14:18, Jesus said, “but they all began making excuses.” Interesting.

In Luke 14 verses 15-24, we read...

15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” 16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.”

In Jesus' parable, we see that God prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. However, when the time of the banquet arrived, they each made excuses so as not to attend. From reading, we see there were three excuses given. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and must inspect it. (Luke 14:18)." Another said, 'I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. (14:19). "Still another said, 'I now have a wife, so I can't come'" (14:20).  It is here we see that the invited guests made their excuses as to why they couldn't attend the banquet. They turned down the invitation to the banquet because the timing was inconvenient. Interestingly, the excuses offered by these people when invited to the banquet sounds very similar to what one hears from many when they get an invitation to salvation. The point of the parable is that things of this world were priorities for the excuse makers.
Being a social worker, I think I may have heard it all when it comes to excuses, and why they are not making their child a priority. Like them, when we make excuses about salvation, we are saying that Jesus isn't as important as other priority in our lives. Truth is, it is God's will that everyone be saved. And if you know that you are not saved, you should get saved today. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Note: God does not force people to come to him; He simply invites, but we must accept the invitation. He says, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” Revelation 22:17. 

CONCLUSION

Don't make any more excuses! After reading the parable of the Great Banquet, hopefully you'll see that the parable touches on something deeper. The parable of the great banquet concerns salvation. It signifies God's kingdom. Remember, everyone is invited, but we should not make excuses at the time that he is inviting us...because His invitation doesn't last forever.