Remember me according to the Lord’s mercy.

“Do not remember the sins of my youth or my rebellious ways; according to your mercy remember me, for you are good, O Lord” (Psalm 25:7).

Life is about “making memories.” From the moment we are born, memories are planted in our hearts through life with our parents, and as we grow, memories are formed in our lives with siblings and friends. Through many encounters with others, we create various kinds of memories. These memories can be divided into two categories: good memories and bad memories. Of course, beyond these two, there are also painful and sorrowful memories. However, even these memories can be good or bad. Do you have more good memories in your heart, or more bad ones? Often, we need to take time to look back on our lives and reflect on the memories we hold in our hearts. In doing so, we should dedicate ourselves to creating more good memories, and work to cover the bad memories with good ones. When we do this, we can become truly rich in heart.

Today, in Psalm 25:7, the psalmist David prays to God, asking Him not to remember the sins and faults of his youth, but to remember him according to the Lord’s mercy. He relied on the Lord’s mercy as he prayed. What if he had prayed to be remembered according to God’s holiness? Can you imagine? If God had remembered David according to His holiness, what would have happened to him? It is unimaginable. If God remembered all of David’s sins and faults revealed in His holiness, knowing and remembering every one of them, what would have become of David? It is unimaginable. If God remembered you and me according to His holiness, we could not escape His wrath and punishment. But the amazing truth is that God laid all our sins and faults on His only Son, who was crucified, and poured out His holy wrath on Jesus on the cross. Therefore, now when we confess and repent of our sins, God not only forgives but also does not remember (forgets) our sins. David trusted in this mercy of the Lord and pleaded: “Remember me according to your mercy” (v.7). And he asked God to remember him in this way for the sake of God’s goodness.

We too must pray this prayer to God. Like David, we must pray to God relying on the Lord’s mercy. Like David, we should pray, “Remember me according to your mercy,” so that God’s goodness may be revealed. And when we pray like this, we should rely on God’s love who loved us so much that He gave His only Son to be crucified for us (John 3:16). We should hold on in faith to God’s word that says His thoughts of love toward us are more numerous than the sand (Psalm 139:17-18). We should pray believing that God, full of these loving thoughts, not only forgives us when we confess and repent, but also does not remember our sins, rather He holds only good memories (good thoughts) toward us for His goodness. We should pray to God with that faith.

Then, we should strive to remember our beloved brothers and sisters according to the Lord’s love. We should endeavor to cover bad memories about them with good memories. We must overcome bad memories with good memories. Therefore, in the Lord, we should fill our thoughts and hearts with loving memories. I pray that you and I will dedicate ourselves to making such memories.

Dedicated to creating loving memories,

Pastor James Sharing

(I want to be someone who reminds people of Jesus)