Monday, October 08, 2007

Have you ever been reminded of your shortcomings? I sure have. In fact, as I try to lead a congregation of 475 souls, I am constantly reminded of them. Just about everyone in my congregation knows that I am very forgetful. Not to make excuses, but when you come to me on Sunday morning five minutes before worship is about to start and you tell me to call you on Thursday at 8:14 am, don’t expect me to remember that.

The other day though, my forgetfulness went way too far. I was supposed to pick up the junior high kids after school so that they could come to church for bell practice. I was even reminded twice by one very faithful, loving, and worrisome mother. In the meantime, I got another church member’s concerns on my brain, went to see him, and totally forgot all about those ten or so kids that I was supposed to pick up.

There was also that one time, where a church member called me to inform me that another church member was in the hospital. As soon as I hung up the phone, my daughter, who was two at the time, started screaming and I had to attend to her, then I had another phone call, plus it was supper time so my mind was where it always is, on food, and before you know it, that church member in the hospital totally slipped right out of my mind.

A couple weeks ago I was supposed to do chapel at Lutheran High School in St. Charles. I didn’t forget that I had to do it, but I remembered the wrong day. I was supposed to be there on a Wednesday and, for some reason, I don’t know why, I thought it was Thursday. I even had it written down in my appointment book.

Every day, somewhere along the line, I find myself worrying about someone I have forgotten to call or to go and visit or some appointment I have missed. It is way too often that I have that sneaking suspicion that I forgot to do something.

In this little way, and in so many other ways, I am reminded daily of my sinfulness. I have never really had a problem with saying that I am a sinner in need of forgiveness, because the sin is way too prevalent and forthright in my life for me to ever miss it.

Paul says the same thing when he says in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief.” In Romans 7:18 Paul continues by saying “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good , but I cannot carry it out. Actually from verse 14 all the way to the end of the chapter is a good thing to read over and over again.

As it is though, verse 24 is the one that gives me comfort. It says, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What this says to me is of greatest comfort, especially after I have had a terrible week, after I have said some mean things, after I have complained a little too much, and after I have forgotten the fourth appointment of the week. It says to me that there will be a rescue from this overweight body and this forgetful mind. It says that there will be a deliverance from all of the times that I said I would do better next time and still failed when next time came. There will be a time when I will throw off this old sinful nature that I housed in this sinful body and exchange it for my new perfect and sinless body in paradise.

This same promise is for you as well. If you have come to realize that no matter how hard you try, you still fail. When you finally come to notice that you can’t do everything, be everyone’s go to guy, or even control yourself. Then you can finally begin to realize that you are a forgiven and redeemed child of God. Then you will have real peace that doesn’t spoil or fade away! Peace be with you all in Christ!