Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 11:1-26; 2 Corinthians 6:1-18
Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed -- This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.(Psalm 74:2 from the Introit for Trinity 13)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Sometimes it seems God forgets you, doesn't it? Or that maybe He's even forgotten His whole church. Everywhere you look, the world makes fun of Christians and other religions seem to be taking over. It seems like Christ's church is lost among a sea of hatred and persecution. God's Word is forgotten and neglected.
When we see that happening, we sing with ancient Israel, who also thought that God had forgotten them, “Remember Your congregation!” Remember us, Lord, and don't forget us!
But how could God forget you? How could He forget what His Son did for the world? How could God forget that His own Son was nailed to a Cross and shed His blood. How could He forget that blood-curdling cry of forsakenness that Jesus cried from Calvary? How could He ever forget you, who have been marked with His name at the font and fed with His Son at the altar?
The answer is that He can't! God doesn't forget you and He doesn't forget His church. The Lord doesn't forget His promises, but keeps them. When the Lord gathers us in the Divine Service and His Word is poured into our ears and His Son's Body and Blood are given us to eat and drink and when He hears our praises ring forth—the Lord remembers. He remembers and He comforts us with the promise that the world cannot overcome His church. Yes, not even the gates of hell itself shall overcome His kingdom! For this is a kingdom established by the blood of His Son, which blots out sin and death. This is a kingdom in which forgiveness and righteousness reign. This is the Lord's kingdom, which will never pass away even though heaven and earth will pass away.
Take comfort in that, dear Christian, that when it seems the little flock of God upon the earth is forgotten, it is not forgotten at all, but is safely in the hands of the Lord, who redeemed it and will come again to take us to be with Him forever. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
God's Word forever shall abide, No thanks to foes who fear it; For God Himself fights by our side With weapons of the Spirit. Were they to take our house, Goods, honor, child, or spouse, Though life is wrenched away, They cannot win the day. The Kingdom's ours forever. (LSB 657:4)