As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him. Psalm 103:11
If the St. Louis-born T. S. Eliot (1888-1965), who found fame in England as a poet and essayist, were to return to his boyhood home, he would find a large parking lot. Very likely, he would not be remembered by anyone.
The above is a very common experience of people who revisit the scenes of their childhood. In this respect, people are very much like flowers--perishable. The psalmist declares, "As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more" (Psalm 103:15-16).
People are often forgetful. This is something Joseph experienced in Egypt. In prison he interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer. The baker was hanged, as Joseph said, but the cupbearer, who was spared, "did not remember Joseph; he forgot him" (Genesis 40:23). How human! But two years later, when Pharaoh had haunting dreams, the cupbearer came forward and said, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings" (Genesis 41:9). He then suggested that Joseph be brought from prison to explain the king's dreams.
All the while there is Someone who remembers. The psalmist goes on to say, showing contrast: "But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD'S love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children" (Psalm 103:17). God remembers us, however old we get and wherever we live. God's saving love in Jesus Christ attends us throughout life.
The God who remembers us is the same God we came to know in our parental home and whom we worshiped with simple childhood prayers. He is with us still. He recalls what we ourselves may have forgotten. But He does forget something--our sins, for which Christ died and of which we have repented. This is His promise: "I will be their God, and they will be My people. ...I will ... remember their sins no more" (Jeremiah 31:33-34). We thank God for His short memory in this regard.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord God, for continually keeping me in Your grace and blessing me in Christ Jesus. Amen.
(Devotions from "With Jesus Every Day" copyright 1997, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 33-34 Acts 23:16-35
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