It Starts Small

I have written 1 Corinthians out many times. I almost have the chapter memorized. As I was preparing this series, I again, wrote this put slowly to take it in. The phrase that stuck out to me is: Love keeps no record of wrongs.

No records of wrong.

I can remember thinking about how thankful I was that the Lord has taught me forgiveness. To walk in the spirit of forgiveness, but as I prepared today’s writing, I was hit with, you forgive, but you don’t forget. You don’t forget. He was right. My heart was filled with forgiveness but I was unable to forget the wrongs.

I told myself I was not being mean-spirited by remembering what had been done. To me it was a caution of the future. I forgave and moved on. But this passage of scripture told me that part of loving, was to keep no record.

You many be much younger than I am. When I was young, the grocery stores used to have these displays. It was anything from cookware to dishes. If you bought certain products or spent a certain amount you collected stamps. You put the stamps in a book and cashed them in when you had enough to get said cookware or dishes.

I was still holding onto stamps and lists of wrongs. Many of these people I would never see this side of heaven but if I had ever encountered those who are still here I already knew I would be cautious. Every interaction, every encounter, every opportunity could be a new start. A fresh start in that relationship, but it would be marred by the memory of the wrongs done.

As I pondered this, I re-read 1 Corinthians. My heart’s desire in life is to love as Jesus did. This chapter tells us exactly how to love and this verse was pointing at a fatal flaw in my heart. I wrote down a list of names and asked God to help me erase the records I was keeping. I gave Him my stamp books. It is not always easy. Just as He wipes my slate clean and remembers no more, I need to give that to others. Wipe their slate clean.

Thoughts to Ponder:

• Where are you keeping a record?
• Who needs a clean slate with you?
• What would truly happen if we wiped the slates clean around us?
• What would happen if we stopped keeping a record of wrongs?

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