It is written that “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His Name” (Hebrews 6:10); yet, we also read that He forgets our sins and iniquities. Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Consider Hebrews 11 which recounts the lives of people who walked by faith. Interestingly, it never mentions their struggles and failures.
Even though we can read about their wrestling with doubt and their shortcomings as a result, chapter 11 reads like the Dean’s list.
For example, when we study the life of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis, we find Abraham had times of apparent staggering. Nonetheless, Romans 4:21-22 says, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21. And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. 22. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” Sarah laughed when she heard that she would bare a son (see Genesis 18:9-15); yet we read, “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful Who had promised.” As a matter fact, Abraham laughed when he first heard it as well (see Genesis 17:1-17). Yet, they were both counted as those who walked by faith. God did not mention their shortcomings. He honored them, and spoke of what He saw in them. Since He is a respecter of none, the same thing applies to you!
The Father is not interested in His children’s apparent shortcomings. That’s not to say He does not correct us when needed; however, He sees the real you. He knows your heart and speaks to the glory He placed in you through Jesus Christ. For many of you; in fact, probably all of us, it’s time for a paradigm shift. Lets bring our thought life into focus. Do you tend to quickly forget your victories and labor of love the moment you experience failure? Did you consider yourself a loser when it happened? It is good to have a proper perspective about ourselves, so we may properly honor God. Why are so many people quick to remember the bad and forget the good? The minute they do something wrong, they’re branded by the deed, and all the good gets flushed down the toilet. Did you notice that thought process is the polar opposite of God’s?
If we are to honor our Father, we need to give honor to others. 1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. We belong to Him. We were bought with a price, and we are not our own. As a matter of fact, all humanity belongs to Him. As it is written, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). It is important that we treat others and ourselves in the way He treats us. If you believe in God, do you believe what He says? If you do, then it is time to believe what you say you believe.
God calls those things that are not as if they were (see Romans 4:17). This is where it gets tricky. Ask God to show you how He sees you and others. It will help you to receive the actual truth about yourself, and speak words of life to others. If we receive and speak the opposite of what God says, we are not in agreement with Him. In essence, we are not promoting life; we are embracing death to our destiny God has for us. We may actually de-edify the Body of Christ, and hinder others from the kingdom of God. If I have the final word, because God’s Word doesn’t make sense to me, I have made myself a god, and/or made God in my image. No wonder Romans 3:3-4 says, “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4. God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That Thou mightest be justified in Thy sayings, and mightest overcome when Thou art judged” (by sinful humanity [author’s note]).
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. One of the reasons God remembers our good works is that He created us for them. Of course, He remembers the good because He is good. And He is good all the time! Godly accountability holds others to whom they’re called to be; it does not call them to the carpet when they blow it. Likewise, focus on whom God called you to be. Remember the victories should you face failure. Remember what the Lord says about you. You will recover much quicker, and be able to help others through their times of crises.
We cannot afford to take the scale approach to life. That is to say, we cannot try to outweigh the bad by doing good. That leads to rationalization and denial. If we try to diminish failure by comparing it to our “good deeds”, we will fail to repent. We will depart from grace and enter into dead works. We have to face things head on. We do need to repent and ask for forgiveness when necessary, and yes, receive discipline. However, in order to move forward, we need to put failure behind us. Sir up the gift of God in you by way of remembrance. Restore others in a spirit of meekness. Help them remember as well.
Just remember what you’re supposed to remember, and forget what you’re supposed to forget!
The Believer’s Book of Blogs Volume 1
The Believer’s Book of Blogs Volume 1 is comprised of 52 blogs that are from The Perfectfaith Blog series. They are timeless lessons that will enrich the reader’s life. While the book may be used as a personal devotional, it would also be perfect for weekly group Bible Studies.
