“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NLT
Are you good at forgiving or better at keeping score of wrongs done by others? Forgiving is hard only when we try to go about it our way. Forgiving God’s way is an act of obedience more so than the will to do it. We forgive because we were forgiven, we love because He first loved us. Every decision we make as His children, is more about Him and less about us. If we make it about us, we’ll never forgive or love completely.
Whenever we keep score we’re actually giving the enemy the tools he needs to destroy us spiritually, emotionally, physically and even financially. Financially? Yes! The Lord cannot support bitterness and unforgiveness. He cannot be party to the scoreboard mentality because He paid a horrible price to scrub our scoreboard clean of all our offenses against Him. Think about it. What if every time we stood up publicly, behind us was a scoreboard of all our mistakes and failures that everyone else could see but us? We’re putting on our best performance and others are seeing what we thought was hidden. How embarrassing would that be?
Remember the words of Jesus about keeping score of wrongs? If we don’t forgive, our Heavenly Father won’t forgive us.” Matthew 6:15. Scoreboarding is a horrible hobby and a waste of energy. The longer we hold on to past wrongs, the less joy we have. It ages us. Unforgiveness seeps through our pores like a bad odor. No one wants to be around a scoreboarder. We are told to forgive, “just as God in Christ forgave us. Ephesians 4:32. We’re not commanded to be buddies with the perpetrator, and this all depends on the wrong that was done. Some relationships can be restored, while others need to be loved and forgiven from a distance. We need the wisdom and grace of God the Father by His Spirit to live forgiveness His way.
I shared in the earlier writings of morning messages how I worked with someone who hurt me very badly. Every time I would hear their voice I’d pray “Father please help me to love them” I had forgiven the offense but having to be around them was proving to be difficult. It’s easier when you don’t have to see them, the wound is given time to heal. But this was not the case. I also acknowledged that I couldn’t forgive in my own strength so I kept repeating that prayer until my heart was healed. The Holy Spirit helped me by removing the stinger. He even provided an opportunity for me to be a blessing to the person in many ways. God is awesome. I wanted to forgive and keep no score. We don’t forget, but we lose the sting of the hurt. We can move forward when we allow the Holy Spirit to do what only He can. By bringing His peace and presence to the mix.
Mercy is not a one way street. We all needed it. And will need it at some point in our lives. Jesus said “blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7. We can’t want what we’re not willing to give. We water ourselves when we water others. We are told to “love and treat others the way we love and treat ourselves” Matthew 22:39. emphasis mine. I’m a straight shooter. I don’t like beating around the bush. And I don’t like pretenders. Give it to me straight even if it’s going to sting. I’d rather bandage the wound than be lied to. Proverbs 17:10 says this; A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool. Translation; if you’re wise and trust the one giving the rebuke you’ll receive it well, but a thousand lashes to a fool or unwise does nothing for him. What I’ve had to learn, and keep learning, is what the Holy Spirit told me a few weeks ago when I had to listen to nonsense and watch my response. He said “use finesse” lol. I wanted to vent my frustration lol. My rough edges are being smoothed out by my Teacher.😊
Satan is the master score keeper, he’s still holding a grudge for being kicked out of heaven and being demoted. He even got a name change from Lucifer the anointed Cherub to Satan the thief, failure and father of lies. He is always on the lookout for the offended. Don’t give him the time of day. Wipe the scoreboard clean of all past hurts. If you want to keep score, start recording how many victories you have won since Jesus and the Holy Spirit have been your life Coaches. Start keeping score of how many people you have forgiven, how many you have led to faith in Jesus Christ. How many you have blessed by being authentically His. Keep score of how many times you have overcome Satan's attempts to get you to go backwards. Keep a scoreboard of his defeat.
We have learned a different way, we have a sanctified approach to life as we are fully submitted to the Holy Spirit. Remember we are more than conquerors through Christ, not through human efforts. Here’s a picture of who we were and who we are:
“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:21-27, 29-32 NLT
Get rid of the old scoreboard, the scoreboard of the old mindset. The one that has you joyless and lacking true peace. We’re not asked to do this in our strength but His. Remember He Succors us. He understands human frailty and failures, He knows how to get us through any and everything. He never succumbed to any but mastered it so that He could be our High Priest. He shows us how to do life from His perspective. Get out of your way and allow Him to heal the hurts and bring inner peace that translates to true forgiveness. You can’t, but He can.
This is how God’s scoreboard reads:
“As far as the east is from the west, So far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 KJV
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
August 4, 2021