True love releases grudges and is willing to forget rather than holding faults against someone.   #theloriclineshow   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   If someone you love hurts you, do you believe you have a right to remember that offense and hang on to it? Are you believing truth or a lie? Here’s the thing about what is true or what may be a lie, it doesn’t matter what you or I think or believe about it, what matters is what the Bible says. If I am a Christ follower, God’s word is my standard for truth in how to live, how to love and how to pursue what is right and true.  The love LIE is this - I have a right to remember everything you’ve ever done. So, let’s look at what the Bible has to say about me hanging on to something my husband did or said five years ago. Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Ok, there you go!  So after 77 times forgiving, I can dust off an offense and remind the one I love of it right in the middle of a heated discussion!  Not quite.  Jesus is teaching here in this chapter that believers have been forgiven way more than they will ever be asked to forgive. Understanding the grace I’ve received for my faults in turn should cultivate a heart of grace and forgiveness in me to offer to those who hurt me. We forgive because we have first been forgiven.  1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Holding faults against someone is not love. Deeply loving someone is being honest when we are hurt and communicating the truth of what we feel in love. As we listen and work through the issues, our understanding of grace as well as our love for Christ should move us to be quick to forgive, abounding in grace, not keeping a record of wrongs.  Ok, so what do we do when it doesn’t come that easy? Often I forgive, but the hurt still remains and my mind goes back to what was said in a heated discussion or what was done and I don’t know how to let go of it?  I think of the lyric of this old hymn..   Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.  When I think of the grace poured over me, I can’t NOT offer it to those around me. Often it’s most difficult to offer it to those we love most. In those seasons we can lean into the power of the Holy Spirit to give us strength to believe what is true, let go and offer grace once again.  In time hearts can heal and love grows stronger. That’s the truth.  I pray you can forgive what needs to be forgiven. Don’t believe the love LIE that you have a right to remember. Throw away the list in your mind once again and praise God for the grace that covers you. I’m Lori Cline.