The Season to Remember
I have heard it said, “Real men wear pink.” Well, so do forgetful men who accidently wash a load of whites with something red. I will leave you guessing whether this is a life lesson learned from experience or a laundry tip taught by my mother. The reality is that such a mishap can happen to any of us. We all have a tendency to forget things, especially as we get older.
King David wrote in Psalm 103:2, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” He then proceeds to list some of the divine benefits that we enjoy in life: forgiveness, healing, redemption, loving-kindness and tender mercies, and the satisfaction brought about by good things. He adds these things to the list of God’s benefits: righteousness, justice for the oppressed, revelation of His ways, mercy and graciousness, and patience.
It might surprise you to know that there are 70 verses in the Bible dealing with “remembering,” and 55 verses warning us about forgetting God. The Lord knows that our tendency to forget things, even important things, is a matter of human weakness that plagues all of us. Even the best and brightest among us are known to be forgetful. This is seen in the stereotype of the absent-minded professor. The fact is that most of us lead busy, hectic lives. Our minds are filled with appointments, upcoming events, passwords, PIN’s, and “To Do” lists.
Even sadder than the outcome of a laundry mishap, are the results that come from forgetting God’s blessing. There are two grave dangers that can come from failure to acknowledge God’s benefits: arrogance and despair. An attitude of haughtiness and self-importance can be seen in those who take the credit for the good things they enjoy in life. On the other hand, discouragement often stems from our inability to recognize our many blessings from the Lord. My prayer is that you will take a moment to “count your many blessings,” as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. And don’t forget to give thanks to the Lord, as you “see what God has done.”
Serving in love,
Bro. Jim