No Record of Wrongs by Ann E. Broughton

No record of wrongs devotion by Ann Broughton

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs" (I Cor.12:4-5 NIV).

This chapter of Corinthians has been known as the love chapter. I have seen it on plaques that are popularly given to wedding couples, but I think it was meant for how all of us should treat one another. I would like to concentrate now on the last words....it keeps no record of wrongs. Even if we forgive people for the wrongs they have done to us, it is still in our memories. I believe that Satan uses these wrongs in our memories to try to cause us to become bitter, angry, and depressed. Satan wants us to feel these emotions because then we are not effective in our witness for Christ.

According to this scripture, we are to forgive and not keep a record of it. So our challenge is to give these wrongs to Jesus and surrender our bad feelings about these wrongs to Him. That way Satan cannot use them to bring us into despair. A favorite verse of mine that will help us when we start thinking about all the wrongs that have happened to us is..."and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (II Cor. 10:5 NIV). If we give these bad thoughts to Christ, He will give us peace and help us not to dwell on the bad, but concentrate on His love for us. Christ could have called a legion of angels to save him from the cross, but instead he forgave those who berated Him and died so that we could have eternal life. He was the ultimate example of keeping no record of wrongs. And since we are to behave like Him, our challenge is to not give in to bad thoughts, but surrender all of them to Christ. Let us walk in His love this week and give our thoughts to Christ and trust Him to help us as we try to live a life pleasing to God.
Dear Lord,
We know that in this life there will be people who wrong us in someway. Help us to forgive and give these wrongs to you. When memories of these wrongs threaten our peace, help us to give them to you. We know that you will give us peace. Thank you for your love and example.
In Jesus name,
Amen