Weekly challenge to focus on and practice LOVE through lack of anger and not keeping record of wrongs.

Sunday- God’s lack of anger and keeping record of wrongs

Psalm 103:8-12  ⁸ The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love. ⁹ He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever; ¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;  ¹² as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Challenge: Read this passage three times.  What does it say about God and anger and keeping record of wrongs?  When I read this passage I am reminded that God’s love is immeasurable for those who fear him and he will wipe our slate clean when we sin.  Isn’t it great to have a clean slate?  Write a thank you note to God for your clean slate.

Monday – Our lack of anger and keeping record of wrongs toward God

Philippians 4:12-13 ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Challenge: God’s love for Paul gave him strength to be content in any and every situation.  Paul was not angry with God for the things he suffered.  Paul put his suffering in perspective compared to what God had done for him and he responded in love and service.  Write down some of the things you have suffered.  Put them in perspective to what God has done for you.  How have you responded?  

Tuesday- Our lack of anger and keeping record of wrongs toward our Family

Genesis 50:17  ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

Challenge:  Joseph loved his family and he forgave his brothers for mistreating him.  Would you have had the same response if you were in his sandals?   Think of times you have been hurt by family members.  Was being sold into slavery and lying about you being dead on your list?  It wasn’t on my list either.  My list seems pretty insignificant but even if it wasn’t, God expects me to have the same attitude that Joseph had.  Are you still angry about being mistreated or have you forgiven your family members?  Loving your family means that you forgive them.  Make an effort to mend fences today.  Ask God for strength to forgive your family for anything in the past and prepare your heart to forgive them in the future.

Wednesday- Our lack of anger and keeping record of wrongs toward our Friends

Ephesians 4:31-32  ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Challenge: When we are wronged by a friend it hurts us deeply and it is easy to become bitter.  One of the things Paul identifies that the Ephesians are to get rid of is bitterness.  I picture someone that is bitter as being angry and keeping record of wrongs.  The bitter person drives down the highway of life looking in the rearview mirror rather than appreciating the journey and the blessings around them.  Paul encourages the Ephesians to forgive each other when wronged and focus on the blessings we have in the forgiveness in Christ.  Focus on God’s forgiveness for you and let go of bitterness that you may have for someone that has wronged you.  

Thursday- Our lack of anger and keeping record of wrongs toward our Neighbor

Colossians 3:13    Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Challenge: Nobody’s perfect.  Have you ever said that?  If you have, you probably said it to defend something that you did.  We acknowledge that we need forgiveness but sometimes when we are wronged it is more difficult to acknowledge that those who wrong us need our forgiveness.  If we love our neighbor we will forgive them as the Lord forgave us.  Pray that God will give you a forgiving heart toward your neighbor.  Show love for your neighbor that has wronged you by demonstrating that you have forgiven them. 

Friday- Our lack of anger and keeping record of wrongs toward our Enemies

Colossians 3:7-8   ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Challenge: Our human natural response to someone that has committed a wrong against us is anger, rage, malice, slander, and possibly filthy language.  Paul says that was our old life before Jesus.  Remember Jesus is our example.  Think about all he endured leading up to the cross.  Jesus’ response to being cursed, falsely accused, hated, beaten, nails driven into his hands and feet was forgive them for they know not what they do.

Who would you consider your enemy?

What have they done to you?

What will be your response?

Saturday- Our lack of anger and keeping record of wrongs toward the Lost

Luke 15:1-2   15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Challenge: When I picture the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, I think of someone that is angry and a record keeper because they do not have a true relationship with God.  As Jesus pointed out, the Pharisees and teachers of the law were concerned with keeping rules and their love for sinners was not evident by their actions toward the lost Luke 11:37-52.  Stop and evaluate your actions toward the lost.  Do you share with the lost the love and forgiveness that you experience in your relationship with God? Are you gracious and supportive to help them experience God’s forgiveness?  Pray to God that you will have the love of Jesus in your heart for the lost as you minister to them.  Practice showing love and forgiveness to someone that needs Jesus in their life.