Record Breaker

One of the biggest dichotomies we live through is relationships. They can bring out the best and the worst in us, and sometimes both in the same day. Relationships tests our faith regarding how we handle conflict, offense and loving people. This is a huge are of growth and challenges.

In relationships, we all have a “record.” We remember hurtful things we have done and we definitely remember what others have done to us. When it comes to remembering hurts, our hearts operate like a high-tech computer, forgetting nothing. The memory of a person or a conversation can trigger a variety of emotions.

We are obviously love-challenged, especially when we hold up our own standard to God’s. It’s conditional verses unconditional love. It’s What can they do for me verses What can I do for others. It’s a massive battle that doesn’t stop. We must address it, and walk through it in Christ.

Our Record looms big over our shoulders, and over the shoulders of others.

Records tell the story of where we have been, what we have done and what others have done to us. For some this is unbearable, for others it’s embarrassing. Our tendency is to hang on to our own records, and even more so the records of others. This breeds anger, resentment and unforgiveness that robs our faith, and stunts us in our growth. It’s the same trick over and over again, no matter who we are. This has trapped so many of us, leaving things unfinished, so that when we try to move on, we are still bleeding and hurting.

But there is a better way!

It requires humility and obedience to God and His way in our lives. It requires us to see others through the grace and mercy that has been given to us. It requires us to choose His way over our own. You see, the meat of the Word is not only in our knowledge of it, but in our application of it. It’s the action of our lives that reveals our depth with God, especially in the moment of heartache and pain. He wants us to love when it hurts, to love when we have been wronged and to love when we are angry. I know this sounds crazy, but faith doesn’t make sense. It conquers our wrestling hearts with unthinkable love!

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud, or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Notice that last part, “keeps no record of being wronged.”

This is twofold; first, it’s liberating. God erases our record! All of us have done wrong, and we all have committed acts against Him and others. Yet He washes it clean. He chooses not to keep our record dirty, but rather He cleans it, making us new and free. His grace and mercy are fascinating. He gives us a new beginning, a clean conscience and a new purpose. This is abundant life, a new life that is blessed in the present and that will live on forever with Jesus! Wow! I don’t about you, but I’m so glad He cleaned my record and that He doesn’t remember my past. What freedom! What love! What a Savior!

However, the second part points back to us. We are expected to give this to others, and that is where we stumble. We love receiving love and a clean record, but giving it away is hard. For many of us, we are stuck at this spot. But the Bible says to forgive others as God in Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

While this tests who we are, it helps us to remember how much God has forgiven us! His grace, patience and mercy have been astounding in our lives. He has hidden us from danger, embarrassment and death. He has made us new and free; therefore, from this place we give it away to others. When we think of how much He has done in us, we can receive courage to give it to others.

Our God is a Record Breaker, so He asks us to break the record of others, freeing them, letting them go and moving on to what He has for us. We can free people when we keep no record of being wronged. I’m in process with this right now. I am learning to walk in love and be a record breaker, so that I obtain all He has for me. Life is too short to miss out on purpose by letting someone’s record play over and over again in my mind and heart. God is bigger than that, and He will make me bigger than the things done to me, if I will let Him!

Receive the Record Breaker in your life and then choose to give it away to others. You will be free, you will be healed and you will be renewed in His strength.

Have a great week and the best is yet to come,

PD