BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT GOD REMEMBERS AND FORGETS

Have you ever wondered what GOD really thinks of you?

“Our greatest barrier to knowing GOD better may be how much we know about how much HE knows about us.”

We struggle with GOD because we feel so bad about ourselves and if we know the truth about ourselves, think about how much more GOD knows about us.

Sometimes we don’t want to pray or read the Bible because when we look in the mirror we feel like saying … “you’re a big disappointment!” or “You ought to be a lot better by now…a stronger Christian!”

Sam Storms captured this truth in a simple sentence, “I think we run FROM GOD instead of TO HIM because we know our own hearts all too well and HIS barely at all.”

This is where can be a tremendous help to us.

This chapter captures the heart of GOD for HIS people … even when we do not feel worthy to be the affection of HIS heart.

1. We must realize that there is something that GOD forgets and something that HE will always remember.

HE always remembers ...

English Standard Version Psalm 103

14  For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

GOD made us!

HE knows what we are, how we are and what we will do

we don’t have to call ourselves “worm dirt” … HE know HE made us out of it!

2. We need to be reminded that there is something that GOD forgets.

You’re thinking, “Hold on preacher, GOD knows all, sees all, is ever present and powerful … how can HE forget?

It is NOT that HE “can” forget … it is that HE has chosen to forget.

Look at verse 12 ...

English Standard Version Psalm 103

12  as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

English Standard Version Psalm 103

14  For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

To further understand this fact about GOD look at this verse ...

Jeremiah 31:34b

English Standard Version Chapter 31

For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

When we understand these two important facts about GOD … we then realize that HE loves us, cares for us and we can see HIS heart.

We must be forever thankful of these two wonderful attributes of our Heavenly Father.

There is more that we need to grasp from this Great Song ...

We can see into the heart of GOD and truly see that we are the affection of HIS heart.

Here are 5 more ways we can see the heart of GOD ...

1. He loves to help the needy ...

English Standard Version Psalm 103

6  The LORD works righteousness

and justice for all who are oppressed.

“oppressed” … those who cannot help themselves

GOD takes the side of the weak.

the O.T. meaning for this word referred to widows, orphans, the poor or the foreigners

are you weak?

are you needy?

do you feel oppressed?

The answer for most of us is YES!

GOD is on your side!

2. HE shows mercy to those who don’t deserve it.

8  The Lord is merciful and gracious,

8  The Lord is merciful and gracious,

8  The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Look at the 4 great attributes of GOD in this verse.

HE is “merciful” or compassionate … HE pardons us

HE is “gracious” … HE give us what we don’t deserve

HE is “slow to anger” … HE is patient wit us when we fail

HE “abounds with steadfast love” … HE love us more than we can fathom

When HE saves … HE saves completely

When HE forgives … HE forgives all our sins

When HE sets free … we are free forever

The KJV uses the term “plenteous mercy” … CH Spurgeon explained it this way ...

All the world tastes of HIS sparing mercy, those who hear the Gospel partake in HIS inviting mercy, the Saints live by HIS saving mercy, in CHRIST, we are preserved by HIS upholding mercy, we are cheered by HIS consoling mercy and we will enter heaven through HIS infinite and everlasting mercy.

those who hear the Gospel partake in HIS inviting mercy.

The Saints live by HIS saving mercy.

In CHRIST, we are preserved by HIS upholding mercy.

We are cheered by HIS consoling mercy.

We will enter heaven through HIS infinite and everlasting mercy.

6 kinds of mercy in one sentence … thats what I would call “plenteous mercy”.

3. HE tempers HIS wrath ...

English Standard Version Psalm 103

9  He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

10  He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

“chide” = “accuse”

aren’t you glad HE doesn’t treat us how we deserve to be treated?

if HE gave us what we deserve … it would not be mercy

This verse reminds us that HE is more willing to forgive than we are willing to be forgiven … HE sees us in a different light than we see ourseleves.

Think about it this way ...

when we forget to pray…HE still feeds us

when we forget to give thanks…HE sends us restful sleep

when we idle in sin…HE sends the Holy Spirit to convict us

when we refuse to give…HE keeps giving still

when we fall…HE lifts us up

when we disappoint ourselves or others…HE still calls us children

4. HE has compassion for HIS own...

English Standard Version Psalm 103

13  As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

This verse is better understood once you have children.

When we understand the love we have for our own children … we will better know the the love and compassion GOD has for us.

when they hurt you hurt

when they are scared we console them

when they are happy we rejoice with them

when they are sad we hold them while they cry

we would do anything with in our power to love, provide and protect our children.

we would lay down our life for them!

AND…GOD did just that for us through the sacrifice of HIS only begotten SON!

When an earthly father has done his job well, he makes it much easier for them to believe in and place their faith in the Heavenly Father.

5. HE links us to eternity by linking us to HIMSELF …

English Standard Version Psalm 103

17  But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

and his righteousness to children’s children,

18  to those who keep his covenant

and remember to do his commandments.

There is nothing we can do about how frail we are.

we come into existence stamped, “fragile, handle with care”

we are like a dust storm … we make a big scene and then we disappear.

nothing can change the fact that we are born dying.

vitamins and exercise may slow it down

positive thinking may improve how we act while here

but in the end we will all hear the same thing … “ashes to ashes, dust to dust”

this changes everything … the “blessed ‘but’” that begins verse 18

this little word offer contrast between ...

the fading flower and the Everlasting GOD

our mortality and GOD’S eternity

this one little word stand for hope between this life and the next … life never ends!

I heard this somewhere … “Life without CHRIST is a hopeless end, but; life with CHRIST is endless hope!”

Conclusion ...

What is telling us?

We are richer than we know

We are more blessed than we can imagine

We have more than we realize

We are frail, mortal sinners that are rich in the MERCIES of GOD.

Billy Graham’s story of a lost little boy in England. Policeman asking where he lived … didn’t know. Asked him about certain land marks … none sounded familiar. Remembered a big Church with a steeple and a cross on the steeple that stood high above the landscape. When he asked the little guy if he knew of that Church, the boy replied with a smile … “yes, I know that Church! Take me to the cross and i can find my way home.”

Are you weak? So am I.

Are you needy? So am I

Are you guilty? So am I

Are you frail? So am I

Are you like dust? So am I

Be thankful that we can come to the cross of JESUS and find our way home to GOD!

GOD says to us,

“Come to ME my weak, needy, guilty, frail, dusty children! I know you better than you know yourself and I love you anyway. Come to ME, rest in ME, make ME your ROCK!”

GOD’S mercy … in CHRIST … is more than enough for us all!

FOR this … I am ETERNALLY thankful!