Good Newsletter February 2022
I forgot Valentine’s Day! I had no excuse. There
were plenty of reminders. My wife asked, “Should we go out to eat or to a movie
for Valentine’s Day next week?” and “Wouldn’t that make a good gift for
Valentine’s Day?” Still, I forgot Valentine’s Day.
That was five years ago. Thankfully, my loving
wife has forgiven me for my mistake.
My mistake was relatively minor. But sometimes,
we are wronged by others in ways that are very difficult to forgive and
impossible to forget. Have you been forsaken by a close friend? Is your
connection to parents or children strained? Does your marriage have forbidden
subjects, subjects that only reopen old wounds? Forgiveness was offered, but
the hurt feelings don’t just disappear. To forgive and forget is what you want,
but sometimes the hurt is so deep that after forgiving, you still remember.
A friend once told me that every time I hurt or
offend anyone, I also offend God. With the strain, my mistakes have placed on
other relationships, what hope exists for a good relationship with God? If
forgiveness from friends is uncertain, how can I hope for God’s forgiveness?
I can have this hope because, thankfully, God
thinks differently from the way you and I think. “‘For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). The forgiveness won by Jesus’ death on
the cross is different. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he
removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). “For I will forgive their
wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). Through
Jesus, God forgives, and God forgets!
That is the good news we are reminded of every
week when we worship. It is the very best news. We hope you will join us in
celebrating God’s forgiveness!
Upcoming
Events at St John
Worship
Service: Sunday at 8:30 AM
Adult Bible
Study: Sunday at 9:45 AM
Visit our
website at stjohnev.net
Call us at
651-771-6406
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