The God Who Does Not Remember

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.”

~ Genesis 50:15

Are there times when you think of your Lord as the Joseph's brothers thought of him? Remembering how they hated Joseph in the past and sold him into slavery, they feared that since their father Jacob had died, Joseph would seek revenge. And they feared Joseph even though he had loved, comforted, graciously provided for his brothers, reassuring them not to be afraid of him (Genesis 45). And yet they now assumed that his kindness was only temporal and depended on Jacob being alive. And we are told that Joseph was greatly grieved when he realised that his brothers still thought of him this way.

To the one who trembles in holy fear of God, repents of their sins against God, and accepts the forgiveness of God offered through the blood of His beloved Son Jesus Christ, the Lord says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far have I removed your transgressions from you." (Psalm 103:12). He says, "I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more".

Rejoice O pardoned criminal! For Omniscience has chosen to remember your sins no more! The Father does not hold grudges against those washed in His Son's blood. Are you this day trembling at the many crimes you have committed against Him? Search for them in the Lamb's Book of Life and you shall never find them. Instead, it is written, "Pardoned, restored, loved and commissioned."

Go then, refreshed by His forgiveness and strengthened by His love, enabled by His Holy Spirit and let the love of Christ drive you to serve Him in holiness with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.