Have We Forgotten?

Brothers and sisters in Christ,
In our pursuit to all things pure and holy...
Have we forgotten the whole gospel of Christ Jesus?
Have we forgotten Christ the incarnate?
Have we forgotten the perfect life He lived in our stead?
Have we forgotten His precious blood cleansed us from our unrighteousness?
Have we forgotten His death and burial?
Have we forgotten His victory over death?
Have we forgotten His glorious ascension?
Have we forgotten?

In our pursuit to follow Christ...
Have we forgotten it was God who called us to himself?
Have we forgotten He sent the Holy Spirit, our Helper, to woo, guard, guide, preserve and lead us?
Have we forgotten it is God who works in us both to will and do good works?
Have we forgotten God's covenant promise with himself?
Have we forgotten His promises for provision?
Have we forgotten to lay --and leave-- our petitions before the throne of grace?
Have we, dear sisters and brothers, forgotten to run to Him for strength and His Word for counsel?
Have we forgotten?

In our pursuit to know God more fully...
Have we forgotten to read His Word?
Have we forgotten to meditate upon it day and night?
Have we forgotten to sit under His Word at a biblically-sound church?
Have we forgotten to pray with the saints?
Have we forgotten to go into our prayer closet?
Have we forgotten to fast and pray?
Have we forgotten?

In our pursuit to bring the love of Christ to others...
Have we forgotten the command, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart 
and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself"?
Have we forgotten to love God in this way?
Have we forgotten to love our neighbor as ourselves?
Have we forgotten?

In our pursuit to serve as we sojourn this side of heaven...
Have we forgotten the peace, joy and mercy that abounds
to all that call on the name of the Lord?
Have we forgotten to take refuge and rest in Him as we lay down our heads?
Have we forgotten the joy availed to us when our faith leaps into action?
Have we forgotten to give thanks?
Have we forgotten?

May it not be so with us!
May God's mercy, not wrath, come upon us.
May God's abundant grace yet again come down upon us in our time of turmoil.
May the peace, hope and life in Christ move us toward unity for the sake of the Gospel.

To God alone be the glory.
Amen.

"You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you."
-Isa. 26:3