Are you old enough to remember a record?
You know, a big vinyl disc that played music long before iTunes came along?
I remember my first record was Grease. My husband James had The Village People with “YMCA” on one side and “Macho Man” on the other.
Do you remember your first record?
In a recent sermon, James talked about the records we keep in our minds. A ledger, if you will, with credits on one side and debits on the other. We remember the nice things people do for us, but we tend to magnify the bad things if we’re not careful.
1 Corinthians 13 says, “Love…keeps no record of wrongs.”
To learn more about what this means, we must consider that it doesn’t mean pretending something is okay when it’s not, or ignoring a wrong.
Instead, it’s about 1 John 1:9,
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If God has forgiven our sins, why do we keep remembering them?
Love also doesn’t keep a record of the wrongs that others commit. At a subconscious level, we can keep track of the things that irritate us about our spouse, kids, co-workers, or friends. What does that accomplish? Usually, very little. Negativity sabotages your joy.
So in 2014, I encourage you to throw away your “old records.” Toss the negative thinking which leads you to despair. Instead, dwell on things which are true, noble, just and lovely.
And before you know it, you’ll find yourself being more gracious to others…and to yourself.
