“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

On Sunday I am supposed to teach on the fact that love is forgiving. This is something that I have taught several times … however, this time I am wrestling with what to say. As believers this is something we claim and thankful to receive but when it comes to the way we treat others we struggle with it. Can it be as simple as love God and Love others, Experience Forgiveness and Express Forgiveness? Can Truth be found in the midst of this simplicity?  Do we make it harder than it should be?  When we teach it do we try to find something that is hidden, and when we don’t see it, feel like there has to be something we are missing?  Does it always have to be packaged differently for it to be life changing?

I don’t know about all of that, but I know that forgiveness is crucial for me to have a relationship with God, with others, and to even be able to live with myself.  Maybe that’s where we need to focus. When we experience God’s love, it allows us to understand who we are so we can truly love others and express forgiveness to them.  Jesus says it like this

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 (NLT)

Today, have you experienced Gods forgiveness and love?  Have you reflected on the depths of that love and forgiveness and thanked God for it?  Are you expressing that same type of forgiveness and love to others?

Prayer: Father help us experience the forgiveness and love that you offer.  Let us reflect on what that means for us so we can express that same type of forgiveness and love to others.  This is truly what the Gospel is all about.  Let us not just say it with mere words but show it with our actions and lifestyle so that others can see you by our life and the way we treat them!