Main Scriptures: 1Cor.13:4-7
More Scriptures: 1Pet.3:7, Matt.6:12, 1Tim.2:2
Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs (1Cor.13:5) NIV. Let me begin by establishing this truth. You can forgive and forget the wrongs your wife and children may have done to you. It may be difficult but not impossible. Do you know why? You are created in the image and likeness of God (Gen.1:26-28), and you have the mind of Christ. If God forgives you when you ask for mercy and neither He nor His Son, Jesus Christ, keeps record of your offences, then you can extend that same kindness to your sheep.
That is what today’s Bible verse is trying to teach you and I. Now, in any sport, you always have people who keep scores. There is someone whose job is to keep scores of the teams and at the end of the day, the scores are read. The winners rejoice and the losers cry in defeat. But what is the Holy Spirit telling us today as heads of our families and spiritual leaders of our homes? As a husband, you are not ordained to keep records of the wrong your wife had done, not even your child (ren). God has commanded you to love your wife and children, and the love that God is talking about is that which covers multitude of sin. Yes, it is true that your flock may have offended you several times over. It is also true that they continue to disappoint you. In all of these, God does not want you to open a register where you record all their wrongs. God wants you to walk in forgiveness towards your flock.
It is the devil’s trick to make you want to keep records of wrong. Satan is the unseen hand influencing you to keep records of your sheep’s offences. It is dangerous to keep records of wrong. When you do that it breeds unforgiveness and hatred in your heart against your flock. This is not the will of God for you. Consequently, it hinders your prayers from being answered. The Scripture says ……that your prayers may not be hindered (1Pet.3:7b); and makes you deal with them treacherously (Mal.2:14).
But for you to overcome the temptation of keeping records of wrong done to you by your flock, you need to adopt spiritual strategies. Firstly, you must adopt the principle of advance forgiveness. In Matt.6, the Bible taught us how to pray. And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us (Matt.6:12). When you pray this prayer, you have prepared the ground to learn to forgive your wife and children when they offend you and forget about their wrongs. Secondly, you must be willing to teach and guide them in the love of Jesus Christ. 1Tim.3:2 tells us that one of the characteristics of a good and godly husband is the ability to teach others. You can get relevant spiritual materials (book, tapes, and CDs) that would help them grow out of and overcome their errors. Your flock can be better than where they are. You can make it happen.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISE
- Father, by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ, erase from my heart every record of wrong committed by my flock.
- Father, by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ, cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
- Father, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me
FAITH CONFESSION
I have the mind of Christ inside of me and working through me to love my flock without bitterness and unforgiveness because that is my heritage as a good and godly husband in Jesus name. Amen
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