Remembering

Last Friday our church held a special service remembering 9-11. The color guard marched in, we sang patriotic songs, and then we heard from a guest speaker who spoke about the Barbary Coast pirates, and how 9-11 was not a unique situation. It was a very memorable evening.

It is good to remember certain things, such as those who have fallen in the name of freedom, or those special people who are no longer with us. But God doesn't want us to remember everything. It is not healthy to keep dwelling on things that prevent us from moving forward in life. Past sins, old hurts, and bitterness are some of the excess baggage we aren't supposed to carry around.

Isaiah 43:25 says, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." If God can forgive us and remove our sins, then shouldn't we forgive ourselves, too, and not let those sins drag us down? And, shouldn't we turn around and forgive others for things they've done to us because God has been gracious and merciful enough to forgive us?

It's better to remember what an awesome God we have. We need to recall His sacrifice on the cross for our sins, and that He loves us far above what we can even imagine. Those are priceless gifts worth remembering.