"Go On Walking in Love" -Conclusion of What Love Is Not

"Love . . .does not become provoked . . . , does not keep account of the injury." Love is not easily provoked by what others say or do.  True, it is only natural to become upset when others offend us.  But even if we get justifiably angry, love does not let us remain provoked.  (Ephesians 4:26, 27)  We would not keep a record  of hurtful words or deeds, as if writing them in a ledger so that they will be forgotten.  Instead, love moves us to imitate our loving God.  As we saw in Chapter 26, Jehovah forgives when there is sound reason for doing so.  When he forgives us, he forgets, that is, he does not hold those sins against us as some future time. Are you not thankful that Jehovah does not keep account of the injury?

"Love . . . does not rejoice over unrighteousness." The New English Bible here reads:  "Love . . . does not gloat over other men's sins."  Moffatt's translation says:  "Love is never glad when others go wrong." Love finds no pleasure in unrighteousness, so we do not wink at immorality of any kind. How do we react if a fellow believer is ensnared by sin and fares badly as a result?  Love will not let us  rejoice as if say 'Good! He deserved it!'  (Proverbs 17:5) We  do rejoice, however, when a brother who has erred takes positive steps to recover from his spiritual fall.

Next time: "Go On Walking in Love"-"A Surpassing Way"

From the book: Draw Close to Jehovah