By Pastor Don Schatz

Or Will I?

You can listen to today’s Devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind.”
Genesis 9:15a. New International Version

Do you remember things?  Do you have selective memory?  Do you have tricks to help you remember?  Pastor Doug had to remind me yesterday morning that this devotion was due.  It is not the first time he has done that.  He is a patient man.

I email myself reminders.  Either with my laptop or my phone.  “Don’t forget.”  “Do this.”  “Remember.”  But I am in good company!  After the flood, God put the rainbow in the sky.  Every time he looked at it, God would remember his promise.  He would never again do anything like the flood.  So, if God needs a mnemonic device, I must be doing okay.

Oh, how I can justify my failings.  And yes, in a real sense it is a failing on my part.  When we promise to do something, at least one person (likely more than one) is relying on us.  It should not be their job to remind us of our promise, to coax us to keep our word.

Thank goodness God remembers his promises to us.  We can count on him not to forget.  Except….he does say in Jeremiah 31:34, “I will remember your sins no more.”  Technically, God doesn’t forget.  He remembers not to remember our sins!  I do not always remember to remember things.  God remembers not to remember my sins.  He looks at me and says, “Yes, that is my dear son.  He doesn’t always remember, but I love him anyway.  I must say, he does remember me.”

By the way, God says the same about you, whether or not you share my issues with remembering.  God loves you.  He remembers you.  He will not remember your sins.  He won’t bring them up again.  He will not rub them in your face.  Never.  

Lord, God, thank you for remembering me.  Thank you for not remembering my sins.  By your Holy Spirit, help me to always remember that you are with me, for me, loving me.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado