Remember?

While reading through John:

Joh_2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. 

Joh_2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. 

Joh_12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

How oft I 'forget' to remember the things of the Lord, to bring His words to my mind, circumstances and words.

I recently heard someone remarking on a passage from Isaiah stating God forgets our sin.  To forget implies frailty, and there is NO frailty with God!

I didn't catch the reference they gave, but believe it may have been thus:

Isa 43:25  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Not remember does not equal forgetting.  Not remembering involves a deliberate decision on the person choosing NOT to remember.  This is called forgiveness.

Someone says or does something which hurts or offends you.  If you don't address the issue there is a risk of resentment and bitterness.

The other option is to address the issue - one may have a 'clean' house on the outside, but the cupboards and closets are 'stuffed' with hidden/unresolved issues.

Similar to sweeping dirt under a rug, it's not 'visible' but after a while the 'hidden' issues build up and one begins to trip over the rug.

Just ignoring issues doesn't resolve them.  How about 'just letting it go'?  Does that work?  Well so and so said or did this, I'll just let it go.  What if the behavior continues?  What if so and so doesn't realize the words and/or actions are hurtful/harmful?

Do you 'graciously' just distance yourself or limit your exposure to avoid the hurt?

I was exhorted by this chart on forgiveness:

You can visit the site directly HERE.

So what are we choosing to remember?  The Words of God?  His grace?  His sacrifice?  The Lord's suffering on our behalf? Or past wrongs and hurts?

When we sin against God (and that is the first step when we sin against another), we go to Him.  He lets us know when we are in the wrong, have sinned, fallen short.  He doesn't ignore us, or sweep the issues under a spiritual rug.

1Jn_2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 

Is there someone in your life which you need to resolve issues, or having attempted to resolve set healthy boundaries?

Love desires the good of another, which sometimes involves speaking hard things.  It's not fun or enjoyable to be confronted or corrected, nor is it pleasurable to administer; however, if we are to love one another as Christ commands:

1Pe_3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 

Eph_4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 

Heb_10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 

We must, when necessary, lovingly confront, exhort, encourage.

2Ti_4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

So beloved of the Lord, is there any 'house' cleaning needed?