Why would anyone tell the Lord to “remember” His congregation? Does the Lord forget? Why must we remind Him, as His people, that He has purchased and redeemed us?
The Lord forgets nothing, and He especially remembers His people at all times (see Isaiah 49:14-15). What, then, does it mean when the Lord “remembers”?
When the Lord remembers, it can be a hazardous thing. He remembers the Law He has spoken, and how often you have both disregarded His Word, and rejected His precepts. He remembers all the little sins you thought you got away with in private. He remembers all the times you cheated, or lied, or spread rumors behind someone’s back. He remembers it all.
But when the Lord remembers your sin, He only sees Him who has taken your sin upon Himself. He has purchased you with the blood of Christ. You have been redeemed by His sacrifice upon the Cross. When the Lord brings you to mind, He sees Christ. As surely as you have been baptized into Christ, you have been covered with His death and resurrection. Your sin has become Christ’s, so that His righteousness is now yours.
Remember, O Lord! The Lord loves to be reminded of His promises. To pray “Remember your congregation” is to speak words of faith. Faith receives the Lord’s Words, and speaks them back to the Lord. The words we put into the Lord’s remembrance are certain and sure, because they are His own words of promise.
The words Christ spoke at the Lord’s Supper, “this do in remembrance of me,” in the original Greek language, have a double-sense. They also mean, “this do into my remembrance.” That is, as much as we are given to Remember Christ, He will not forget us either! He has us in His remembrance, and His remembrance comes to us in His body and blood. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Philippians 4:11b
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