What We Forget; What He Forgets

"...she...went after her lovers and forgot me, declares the LORD" (Hosea 2:13).

Our problem is not that we don't know. It's not ignorance of who God is, lack of understanding what's right. Our problem is persistent spiritual amnesia--a diagnosis far more serious, far deeper, than any in the DSM-IV. We forget. We forget who God is, what He has done in history. We forget the cross and the resurrection; we forget that Heaven awaits. We forget who we are and what God has done in *our* history. We forget that He is Emmanuel--with us here, now.

God doesn't forget.

He doesn't forget us; He has engraved us on the palms of His hands. He doesn't forget His promises. He doesn't forget to care for us, to orchestrate world events, to protect and grow His children. He forgets just one thing: our sins.

We forget how lovely He is--and He forgets how unlovable we are. We forget His mercy, but He remembers mercy.

"For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more" (Hosea 2:17).

O Lord, heal our memories. Heal our forgetful, wayward hearts. Cause us to forget the false gods we have chased, to forget the fleeting moments of pleasure they have given. Cause us instead to remember the emptiness of their promises, the lack of lasting satisfaction, the ugliness of betraying You. Cause us to remember Your name, to remember who You have called us and made us to be. Cause us to remember the cross, remember the inheritance that is ours, remember what You have done and what You have forgotten. Then may we, too, forget our sins and lose ourselves in the flood of Your grace. Help us to remember You.


Related:
Forget Not
Remembered, Remembering