Forgive and Forget...Is That Possible?

Let's review.  This is where we have been so far.  1 Corinthians 13 4 -5
⁴ Love is patient,
love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
⁵ It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.  Sigh...

Max Lucado calls this chapter, The Heart Full Of Hurts.  Aptly named.  This chapter gave me pause.  For months, I would spend my days reading and rereading 1 Corinthians 13.  My heart was hurting, my mind was reeling and I was going numb.  Desperation was pulling me under like crashing waves and I was struggling to breathe.  How on earth was I to simply let go and keep no record of wrongs?  Then Max wrote about the Pelicano.

This huge freight ship is carrying cargo that no one wants.  The ship itself is sound.  It is the cargo that keeps it at sea, floating without a port of acceptance.  She is full of trash.  Fifteen thousand tons of it.  Though the trash was burned and it is ash on board, the owners have found that "trash-filled ships find few friends".  Can you smell the parable?  I was challenged to check my own heart for garbage.   "Load after load of anger.  Guilt.  Pessimism.  Bitterness.  Bigotry.  Anxiety.  Deceit.  Impatience."

Max points out that we hide behind excuses in order to build the trash in our hearts.  Like we don't have a choice.  "Don't talk to me.  I'm in a bad mood.  Don't mess with her; she has a bad disposition!  Is disposition something we "have"?  Like the flu?".

I was reminded that my heart, my mind, my body belongs to Christ.  He forgave me completely and wiped my slate clean.  If He had chosen not to do so, where would I be?  How can I look at another person and keep a record of all the wrongs, when Jesus cleared mine?   2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us, "We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ."  Proverbs 4:23 says, "Be careful what you think, because you thoughts run your life."  Romans 12:14 is a tough one.  "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."  This one is nice.  Philippians 4:8.  "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is worthy of praise, think about these things."

"You want to make a list?  Then list His mercies.  List the times God has forgiven you.  Stand face to feet with the form of your crucified Savior and pray, "Jesus, if you can forgive me for hurting you, then I can forgive them for hurting me."  You didn't deserve to be hurt by them.  But neither did you deserve to be forgiven by Him."

I normally assert more of myself in writing, but this issue is one that I struggle with.  Max Lucado has written about it in such a way that I simply want to borrow from him.  I hope that you learn along with me.  His chapter ends as follows:

"You can stick with your long lists and stinky cargo.  And drift from port to port.
But why would you?  Let the Pelicano have the high seas.
Your Captain has better plans for you."

Amen.  And Lord, help me to learn this lesson and commit it to you.