Hey Clawson Family!

Song:

Scripture:

1 Peter 3:9 New Living Translation

9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 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.

Devotional:

The world we live in has a very me mentality. My life is about me, and what you can do for me. What I can do for me. I am just living my best life. Me, Me, Me, Me, Me. Part of the reason we create the scoreboard is so we can prove how me is doing good. Me: doing good, them: not so good. And what we need to understand is… Me keeping score is killing me.

The truth of the matter is, my unforgiveness has nothing to do with them. It has everything to do with me. It is me, who is holding it up. It is me who is stopping the healing. And it is not worth it.

If you are keeping a scoreboard mentality, you find yourself going through life looking through the lens of: What can I count against them? And what can I count for me?

In the scriptures, what Jesus is saying when he says 70x7 is keeping score doesn’t work! This doesn't work!

1 Corinthians 13 says love keeps no record of wrongs. 

 Love is about giving — not necessarily money or gifts — but love. Love doesn’t keep a record of wrongs or offenses. It doesn’t involve scorecards of plusses and minuses. It does not keep a running list of kindnesses to reward those who come out on top (and shun those who do not).

Me mentality says, “What has that person done for me lately?” Love says, “What can I do for that person today?” 

Me mentality makes mental lists of how others have disappointed them. Love makes mental lists of ways they can bless others.

 Me mentality withholds affection and approval from those who don’t deserve it. Love gives affection unconditionally because none of us deserve it.

With genuine love, there are no scorecards. I’m certainly glad God tore up mine!

King David wrote, “If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, LORD, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3, NIV). Certainly, I couldn’t! 

If God doesn’t keep a scorecard — making notes of the ways I have offended Him, disappointed Him or not given Him the attention He deserves — then why should I keep scorecards on the people? If you are keeping score against someone else just know God is keeping score against you, keeping score isn’t worth it! 

Journal: 

In your journal share about a time when someone was patient with you when you messed up. How did the love they showed you affect you? How can you respond with love instead of keeping score?

Training:

Dear Lord, 

I’m no longer keeping a scorecard for ____________. Help me love like You love — unconditionally, no strings attached. Whenever I fall into the old habit of scoring how someone did not live up to my expectations, convict me quickly, and help me replace the negative thoughts with a prayer of thanksgiving.