Love is his banner

Gen 15:1: ‘After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward’.

I wanted to share an analogy that I believe the Lord impressed on my heart a while ago that I am still processing. It is about our rights to all the benefits of the atonement including healing, deliverance, prosperity and favor.

I pictured myself in a local grocery store, in my case Publix. I had loaded up my cart, and was going through check-out…. when it came time to pay, the cashier informed me that everything had already been paid for, by a friend who had gone before me. As I went to make my way out of the store, I was confronted by a store detective who asked to see my receipt, not having it in hand, I tried to explain that everything was paid for. He demanded proof, and told me if I could not produce it then I would have to pay for everything again. I became indignant, why should I have to pay twice? At this point my friend appeared and in his hand was the receipt, the proof of purchase. This was enough to convince the store detective and I walked out the door with what was rightfully mine, all that had been purchased on my behalf.

What struck me most about this is I would (and have) vociferously resisted any attempt in the natural to make me pay for something twice; so why should I allow the enemy to try and put something on me that Jesus already paid for? Instead I can reject his deception and remind him that I have a receipt….the atoning work of the Cross.

Prov 17:9: ‘He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends’.

Love will cause a person to overlook a multitude of sins. In fact that’s why God sent Jesus to die on the Cross for the sins of mankind, and now no longer imputes our sins against us. He loved us so much that He delivered up His own Son, and He didn’t do it because there was anything lovely or deserving about us, He did it because that is who He is – love. This scripture got me thinking this week about relationships and the need to sometimes just let things go. We all know people, (or maybe we do it ourselves) who have a penchant for bringing up the past; reminding us of our failures and transgressions. But the Lord says that He chooses to remember our sins and transgressions no more, He doesn’t just forget them, He chooses to forget them, He covers them with love. So, why do we still remember them? Why do we bring up matters, that should be long since forgotten? I suspect that in many cases it is because, we haven’t properly forgiven either ourselves or someone else. As a consequence, we are likely to repeat the matter over and over again in thought, word or deed; until we bring these issues to a proper conclusion. As believers there really is only one right way of dealing with hurts and transgressions – we have to turn them over to the Lord, and then leave them with Him! There can be no return visits, no digging things up again and no allowing our thoughts to dwell on these matters once they have been finally settled in our hearts.

Father, today I pray that you will teach me to give all things into your hands concerning me and others, I choose to forgive and forget every transgression and when I’m tempted to return to them I will remember that you have taught me that there is a better way. Amen