Proverbs Chapter 17: Verses 9-10 (NLT)
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.
In a way these two verses extend yesterday’s lesson. Love should not cast up past wrongs which have been forgiven. Imagine if God did that to us – we would have no relationship with Him at all. We should never dwell on the wrong that someone has done to us in the past. If we never move on from that then we are the ones who are suffering – not the person who committed the offence. The Bible also tells us that our sins have been cast into the depths of the sea. (Micah 17:9) When we seek forgiveness, God actively chooses to forget what we have done, and that’s what He expects His followers to do too.
But He also doesn’t expect us to turn a blind eye to wrong doing, even by those that we love. However, we need to seek His wisdom and discernment as to how we deal with it so that the person involved is aware of the consequences of their actions. We too should be able to take a just and sensitive rebuke in the way it was intended and learn from our mistakes. Someone who loves us will not let us carry on making wrong choices without pointing out the consequences of our actions, but will we be wise enough to listen? God’s rebukes are never harsh or unkind and so neither should ours be.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the love that made restitution for my wrong doing and continues to direct my steps. Help me to extend the same love, mercy and grace to others that You have extended to me through Jesus. I ask in His Name. Amen.