He Will Not Forget

He Will Not Forget (Favorite Scripture #16)

Hebrews 6:10

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

God’s Word is the lifeblood of the Church. It warns us when we stray... it encourages us when we’re down... and it comforts us when we’re weary.

This solitary verse from Hebrews, is a word of comfort to weary Christians.

The believers in Hebrews were tired.

They were being persecuted.

They were tempted to drift from faith.

Like the old hymn “Come Thou Fount” so succinctly puts it, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” We’ve all been there. We’ve all been “prone to wander” because we’re prone to forget how faithful God has been, and in fact, still is.

So the writer of Hebrews reminds us, as God’s People, that God does not forget His people, nor does He forget the grace He has worked in them.

This is not about earning salvation. This is a Word from God to those who have been redeemed.

It’s about evidence of redemption — the fruit of faith working through love.

John Calvin said, “It is a wonder that God, who owes us nothing, should bind Himself by His own promise to reward our works —and yet it is His gracious justice that does so.”

I’ve often said to you, “we don’t want justice!” Justice demands we get what we deserve. What we want is grace... mercy... pardon. And God graciousness tempers His scorching righteous justice for the redeemed. So here were see God’s justice and God’s grace... not as opposites... but as complimentary... working hand in hand for our benefit... through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

“God is not unjust to forget.”

Those are powerful, humbling words.

The fact is... we forget. Humans forget. We forget our promises, we forget our commitments, we forget kindnesses shown to us. Of course, we remember the insults, the slights, and the offences!

But God’s not like us.

Every act of mercy, every hidden deed done for Christ, every small, seemingly insignificant service rendered in the name of Jesus — God remembers. And for those of us IN CHRIST, he chooses to forget the offences!

That should cause us to drop us to our knees in gratitude. Here we are at Thanksgiving, remembering (as we intentionally remind ourselves of) God’s goodness and blessings. “Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices... who wondrous things hath done, in Whom His world rejoices!” We remember the goodness of God, especially His grace and mercy offered to us in Christ.

Yet... here... we read in our lesson for today, that God actually flips the script! Instead of us remembering His grace... He remembers us.

The question is, “why?”

Why does God remember?

Because His justice is rooted in His faithfulness, NOT our failings. He remembers the grace He Himself has placed in you; and bestowed upon you.

He remembers His covenant.

He remembers His Son.

And because you are in Christ —

The Almighty remembers you.

Our scripture tells us plainly... “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

God will not forget “The love that you have shown HIM as you have helped his people...”

It reminds me of Colossians 3:23, “whatever you do, do it as if working for the Lord...”

What an amazing promise!

True love for God, for Christ, cannot be expressed in words alone. True love for God always flows outward.

You cannot love Christ and neglect His church.

You cannot honor Christ’s name

and ignore your brothers and sisters in Christ.

And the fact is... the love described in our lesson today is not just moral kindness done out of obligation, or pity, or hope of reward —it is sacrificial – it’s a love that doesn’t count the costs and doesn’t weigh the reward. It’s love that begins with faith and ends in glory to God.

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

Our lesson ends with an exclamation point! God remembers our works done for the honor and glory of Christ in the lives of our brothers and sisters; and the work we’re still doing! Presently.

That’s the beauty of it. It’s not only about what we’ve done... it’s about what we’re currently doing. God see it all... and remembers it all.

The fact is, genuine faith is a continuing faith. Love that’s real perseveres. Genuine love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:6) Always, always, always...

It’s not a sprint! It’s a marathon... that requires perseverance!

It’s amazing, isn’t it? Even as we serve, it’s God/Christ who strengthens.

Even as we persevere, it’s God who empowers our perseverance.

So what does all this mean for us?

First:

Your unseen service is seen by God. Every time you have helped another believer, comforted the grieving,

or quietly prayed for another — none of it has escaped the eyes of your Father.

Second:

Your works are accepted because of Christ. God does not forget, because He does not forget His covenant grace in Christ. He sees your imperfect service through the perfection of Jesus.

Third:

Persevere in love. Keep serving your neighbor. Keep living the love of Christ. Keep pressing on —because the grace that saves us is also the grace that sustains us.

And know... that, when all is said and done,

and we stand before Christ, our Savior,

He will not reward our own merit,

but His own mercy.

He will reward His grace at work in your life.

As Paul said, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:10) May that be our testimony...

Keep serving. Keep loving. Keep trusting.

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

Amen.

Prayer

Gracious God, our confidence today is not in our memory, our efforts, our strength...

but in the righteousness of Christ.

He will not forget our work.

He will not overlook our love.

He will not abandon His promise.

Thank you for such an assurance.

Amen.