What does "keeps no account of wrongs" teach about forgiveness? Love’s Open Ledger 1 Corinthians 13:5: “Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no account of wrongs.” The Picture Behind “Keeps No Account” • The Greek verb logizomai is an accounting term: to enter a figure in a ledger, to calculate, to hold on the books. • Love refuses to “post” offenses. Wrongdoings never make it past the initial moment—they are not filed for later retrieval, replay, or retaliation. How God Models This Kind of Forgiveness • Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” • Isaiah 43:25: “I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.” • On the cross, Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” God’s practice is clear: when He forgives, He erases the entry. Why We Must Imitate Him • Matthew 6:12, 14-15—our own forgiveness hinges on extending forgiveness to others. • Ephesians 4:31-32—“Be kind and tenderhearted… forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” • Colossians 3:13—“Bear with one another… forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Blessings That Flow When the Ledger Stays Blank • Freedom from bitterness—resentment poisons only the vessel that carries it. • Restored relationships—trust begins to rebuild once the debt is canceled. • Clear witness—unmerited forgiveness showcases the gospel in action. • Inner peace—no simmering list of grievances to fuel anger or anxiety. Practical Ways to Stop Counting Wrongs • Decide—make a conscious choice that the offense is erased, not merely postponed. • Speak grace—replace replaying the wound with words of blessing (Romans 12:14). • Pray for the offender—intercession softens the heart and keeps bitterness out. • Remember your own cancellation—meditate on the weight of sin Christ has forgiven you. • Refuse rehearsals—when the memory resurfaces, treat it as a closed account. • Pursue reconciliation when possible—love seeks the other’s good, not their punishment. Living the Verse Today Love that “keeps no account of wrongs” refuses to act as a spiritual bookkeeper. It tears up the ledger page, hands the empty sheet to God, and walks forward free. By mirroring the Father’s heart—who no longer lists our sins—we extend the same liberating grace to others. |
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