GOD’S DESCRIPTION OF LOVE, Part 13 - LOVE THINKS NO EVIL (1 Corinthians 13:5).

The Greek word for “thinketh” is “logizomai” meaning “to take an inventory, to occupy oneself with reckonings or calculations, to estimate, impute by number, despise, esteem, reckon, reason, suppose, and think on.” All these words are interpretations of the same Greek word.

It is a difficult temptation when people you know and consider your friends speak against you and falsely accuse you. It’s not so bad if they are casual acquaintances. Sometimes they are members of your own family or even your own spouse.

Immediately we think of some sort of retribution. We may even think of some way we could teach them a lesson or two. By so doing we only harm ourselves and get into a heated and angry state. Or perhaps even feel sorry for ourselves.

We can share the injustice of the way we have been betrayed with others and a root of bitterness springs up whereby many are defiled (Hebrews 12:15).

In Matthew 18:15 Jesus said: “Morever if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”

We are better to fix our thoughts on ways to bring healing and reconciliation rather than scheming ways to bring our own retribution of evil upon our accusers. We are told in the Scriptures not to pay back evil with evil, but rather to give them a blessing (1 Peter 3:9). God want us to retaliate with blessing.

Psalm 37:1-8: “FRET NOT thyself because of evildoers . . . TRUST IN THE LORD, and do good . . . DELIGHT thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart . . . COMMIT THY WAY unto the LORD; trust also in him . . . REST IN THE LORD, and WAIT PATIENTLY for him: FRET NOT thyself because of who prospereth in his way . . . CEASE FROM ANGER, and forsake wrath: FRET NOT thyself in any wise to do evil.”

To be continued.

Be encouraged Colin Campbell