Forgotten

The older I get, the more I notice that my memory isn’t quite a fast and vivid as it once was. I wonder if I had an MRI of my brain, would it look like a 60-year-old brain or would it appear younger. (I guess it could even appear older! Yikes!) I’ve often struggled over the years to remember names. I can remember faces, but names are much more challenging.

I do remember where I’ve been.I do remember where I’ve come from.

I do remember some really dumb things I’ve done.

I do remember some really smart choices that I’ve made.

I think our memory is important to today. If we keep making the same mistakes repeatedly, we haven’t learned much, or our memory is failing.  I think that I have “selective memory” much like “selective hearing”. I remember what I want to remember just like I hear what I want to hear.

Paul calls out the church in Rome about sin after received the incredible grace from Jesus. I think I needed to be reminded of how forgetful I can be. Check this out….

¹Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? ² Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? ³ Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? ⁴ For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. (Romans 6:1-4 NLT)

I think sometimes when I surrender to sin, I choose to forget the power that I have over it because of Jesus. The enemy helps me justify my behavior as not such a big deal. My shame and guilt after sin is still profound – thanks to the Holy Spirit. I’m blown away by the Lord’s patience with me. I know what is right, I just don’t always DO what is right. I need to hear these words again. Check this out…

⁶ We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. ⁷ For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. ⁸ And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.  (Romans 6:6-8 NLT)

I’m so thankful for His Power.

I’m so thankful for His Patience.

I’m so thankful for His Forgiveness.

I’m so thankful for Jesus.

Pressing On!

Dwayne