This morning I was reading in the book of Psalms. The particular Psalm and verse that caught my attention was 106:13 “But they soon forgot his woks; they did not wait for his counsel.” Forgot His works. The verse sent me on a mental Biblical survey. Forgetfulness is a common theme throughout the Bible. Consider these passages:
Deut 4:9
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—”
Deut 8:11-14
“Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,
Judges 3:7
And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.”
Judges 8:34
“And the people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side.”
Jer 2:31-32
“And you, O generation, behold the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, ‘We are free, we will come no more to you’? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.”
As we read these selected passages, we need to consider an important point. It was not until Acts 2 that the Spirit of God filled the new temple of God, the church. Because of the work of Jesus, the church has a distinct privileged over Israel; God in us! Yet, it seems we are still pretty good at forgetting. Jesus instituted Baptism and the Lord’s Supper to help us remember. We remember on Sunday. Then Monday morning traffic happens. I forget my place. All of a sudden, I forget God and buy the lie that I am God. Road rage reveals this god complex. Instead of the available Sabbath rest, my forgetfulness leads me to judge every driver around me: “You idiots! Don’t you know I have a blog to write?! Get out of the way!”
In reality, forgetfulness is a sin that leads to more sin. I act selfishly when I forget what Jesus has done for me. When I forget God’s unconditional love for me, I put conditions on everyone else. Across the Testaments, and into my today, forgetfulness abounds. Is there anyone who remembers? Enter Jesus!
Luke 23:39-42
“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Friends, here you have it! Someone who can remember! My forgetfulness leads to sin; Jesus’ remembrance assures my salvation! In Jesus, we find a man who remembered His Father. He was always about His Father’s business never forgetting the works of His Father. My fellow Christian, Jesus will not forget you! God the Father chose you before the foundation of the world. Jesus has not forgotten that work done by His Father. Jesus has not forgotten the work He did on the cross for you. As surely as He remembered that thief on the cross, He remembers His you! Take heart! We may forget Him, but He will never forget us!
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