Everyday Stars: Deliberate Forgetters
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12 (NKJV)
I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My Own sake; And I will not remember your sins.
Isaiah 43:25 (NKJV)
I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.
Jeremiah 31:34 (NKJV)
Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.
Hebrews 10:17 (NKJV)
Everyday stars forget pain… ON PURPOSE.
They don’t just deliberately forgive.
They also deliberately forget.
NOTE: 'Deliberate' means 'planned, studied, intentional' (Collins English Dictionary).
What should we forget?
Hateful words, hurtful acts, and past mistakes.
Our own forgiven sins, no matter how bad.
The sins of others, no matter how bad.
Our Lord forgives and CHOOSES to forget. Believers are wise to make the same choice. Why?
Recalling a past (and forgiven) sin brings a sharp sting. It’s a prick our hearts. Repeated pricks may cause infected hearts. An invisible suffering takes hold.
What might our HIGHEST COURT transcript look like?
We sinned and a charge was brought against us by Satan, the accuser of mankind. We pled guilty and begged God for mercy. Our Defense Attorney is Jesus Christ, and when we asked Him to take our cases…
The Man did something unprecedented (while He was on earth that applies today): He took our punishment, which made us FREE!
Therein, THE Judge declared us INNOCENT. Our debt is marked 'Paid’ by Jesus Himself.
But instead of us burning the transcripts (and forgetting our sins as our Judge did), we put them in a box close to our hearts--to reconsider from time to time.
Here's the hitch: Each time we reopen our past cases… disregards the price our Defender paid.
Old guilt is not the cross we must carry. Jesus carried that cruel Cross for us.
Then what is our cross? It's our duty NOW. It’s the Great Commission of Jesus Christ… on a narrow path He cleared out for us. Guilt will do nothing, but tempt us to quit.*
Therefore, DELIBERATE FORGETFULNESS… is an attribute of everyday stars.
Everyday Stars: Deliberate Forgetters (Part 6)
* What about the crimes of others? If you have forgiven past attacks, must you also forget them? Yes! For your own freedom to move forward... Yes. However, your freedom does not free your attacker. That's a different case. You don't even need to take the witness stand, because it's all recorded in perfect detail and awaiting a trial date--unless the sinner has pled guilty and requested the same Defense Attorney. Wouldn't that be a miracle?
NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.