SCRIPTURE: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Love does not take into account the wrong deeds of loved ones.
Our anchor Scripture reveals one major feature of love, and that is the fact that love thinketh no evil.
When we say, love does not think evil, what does it mean?
It means:
i. Love does not recount wrong deeds.
True love does not recount the wrong deeds of loved ones. Love does not keep records of wrong things done by loved ones.
ii. Love does not compute or calculate wrong deeds.
This means, love does not take into account the wrong deeds of loved ones.
You know, there are people who have in their possession a book of record to keep the record of wrong deeds done by people. Every wrong deed ever done to them is written in that book.
Any time you offend them, they open the book and tell you something like, “On October 1, 1980, at about 12 noon, you did the same thing to me.”
These people have electromatic brains as far people’s offences and wrong deeds are concerned. They have photographic minds to keep the record of evil people did against them. They would remind you of everything you ever did against them. They can’t forget the details of your offences against them.
The truth is, you cannot carry the baggage of people’s offences and wrong deeds and succeed in life.
iii. Love does not maintain grudges, malice and bitterness.
Love does not bear grudges, keep malice or harbour bitterness.
Now, the question is, does it mean if someone offended you to the point of wanting to kill you, and you discovered it, you should forgive the person and still make him your friend?
Not necessarily. There must be the combination of love and wisdom.
Imagine this scenario: Someone wanted to kill you. He put poison in a glass of water that you were meant to drink without your knowledge, but somehow, God orchestrated things around it, and you left the water without drinking it; a dog drank the water and died of the poison. Are you to forgive the person? Yes!
But would you bring the person close to yourself as a friend? No!
If the person gave you water next time, would you drink it?
Never!
Is the person your enemy?
No!
Is he your friend?
No!
Who is he to you?
You just know him.
What are you doing?
You are exercising wisdom.
And if the person greeted you next time, would you answer? Yes! Should you forgive him? Yes! Should be frowning for him all the time? No!
You don’t keep malice with the person but you apply wisdom in dealing with him.
Remember this: Love does not take into account the wrong deeds of loved ones.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Make up your mind never to think evil of anyone.
- Ask God to deliver you from the temptation of bitterness and malice.
PRAYER: Lord, I receive the grace to maintain a pure heart towards everyone. Help me never to keep malice with anyone despite their offences towards me, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: ACTIONS THAT ATTRACT HEAVEN’S ATTENTION AND INTERVENTION
QUOTE: Who you are determines your voice. It determines your audience or who can hear you. Culled from the book, “Who Are You?” by Dr Paul Enenche.
DAILY READING: Ezekiel 10-12.
AMAZING FACT: Bees can fly higher than Mount Everest.
PROPHETIC WORD (DECLARATION): Grace to walk both in love and wisdom be released unto you in Jesus’ Name.
