How many times have people hurt our feelings or treated us wrongfully? This number may seem to be too many to count. How many times has the person who mistreated you repeatedly done so? This number may also be a huge number. How many times were you the one needing forgiveness? The question may not seem as large as the other answers. Why? We seem to be forgetful when it comes to our wrongdoings. We can become just as forgetful about the wrongdoings of others.
God practices true forgiveness. Listen to the writer of Hebrews, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12 NKJV). The phrase translated “remember no more” means “not to recall,” “not to call to mind” and “not to mention.” The Almighty God of the universe chooses not to keep a record of wrongs committed by His children. Why can God choose not to recall the wrongdoings? It is because love “thinks no evil” (1 Corinthians 13:5). The New American Standard Bible translates this phrase “does not keep an account of a wrong suffered.” God does not focus on the wrong committed but on His love for the individual child of God. He is faithful toward us even when we are faithless toward Him (2 Timothy 2:13).
We can practice this type of love toward other individuals. Proverb 10:12 states, “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.” Peter points to this proverb when he encouraged Christians by writing, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). The word “fervent” describes a zealous, constant and intense love. The extent of this love is not for a short period of time but is of a permanent nature. This type of love looks past the wrongdoings and inconveniences of life and focuses on the individual.
When we love others with this type of love, the wrongdoings of life seem like minor incidences. This love is not always easy but helps us get through even the darkest of times. May we love one another with a fervent love desiring the best for one another!
