Hey Clawson Family!

Song:

Scriputre:

Psalms 103:10-12

10 He does not punish us for all our sins;

    he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him

is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

12 He has removed our sins as far from us

as the east is from the west.

Devotional

Today’s verse shows what love in action looks like on God’s part.  He does not keep a record of wrongs when sin is confessed and forgiven.  Because of His love and grace, He does not treat us as our sins deserve.  We are not repaid as we should be for our wrongdoing.  We do not deserve His wonderful forgiveness! What we deserve is judgment.  But Christ took that just punishment on Himself.

If the Lord gave me what I deserve, I would be in big trouble!  I am so grateful for His complete forgiveness.  There is no record of my wrongs.  He does not bring up my past.  He has removed my sins as far as the east is from the west.

The Lord asks me to extend that same grace I enjoy from Him to others.  The past is the past and I do not want to bring it up.  A loving healthy relationship does not keep score.

Journal:

Hatred and holiness cannot coexist in the same heart. We can’t be the accuser and the advocate. In your journal write down how your scorekeeping could be harming those around you. What can you do to let go of the temptation to keep score and extend forgiveness instead?

Training

Father, 

I don’t want to keep score anymore and live with unforgiveness in my heart. I release it to You and ask You to help me walk in Your love, which keeps no account of the evil done to it.

In Jesus name, Amen

Get a stack of index cards. At the top of each card, write one name of someone you might be keeping a scorecard for. Start with children, grandchildren, parents, in-laws, your spouse, your siblings and your pastor. Then your friends. Beside each name, write the words, “Scorecard.” For example: Josh’s Scorecard. Then pray for that person and  tear up the scorecards and throw them in the trash.