My dad had a saying, “I have a good memory. It’s just short.”
It’s not a surprise, then, that when we come to the Bible, God doesn’t leave our memory to chance. In fact, in one version of the Bible, the word “remember” appears over 200 times. Sometimes it’s a plea from a person to God – it’s a prayer for Him to remember His promises, His great love, His covenant. Other times, it’s a command straight from God to His people.
1. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8)
2. And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
3. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)
4. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)
Why are we commanded as Christians to remember? Many reasons! Here are four:
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Remembering is active.
God knows how forgetful we are of who He is and what He has done. He commands us to remember. It’s a command as forceful as any other command we find in Scripture. Remembering, then, is an active choice. Without us actively and purposefully choosing to remember, then we will forget. CS Lewis knew this and once remarked, “People need to be reminded more than instructed.”
2. Remembering makes us aware.
The forgetful person is the person who is unaware. As we go about our daily lives, it is easy for us to lapse into a haze of ideas, appointments, meetings and obligations. We can forget entirely that a sovereign loving God has plans for us and put together this day for us. We will forget that every day is His day. We forget that He has a purpose and a good plan not only for our sake, but for the world! What we choose to remember—we honor, value and repeat.
3. Remembering gives us hope.
Hindsight is always 20/20. As we look back over our life experiences, we can see God’s handiwork. Once we commit to following him, God really does have our best interest at heart. He is working for our good, for the development of our faith and for His glory.When we go through hard times in the present, remembering what God has already done gives us hope. We are reminded that God never abandoned us and he never will.
4. Remembering brings us perspective.
Whatever is happening in the present occupies all our energy. We are drawn in and dominated by the present drama, the present joy or the present heartache. Remembering brings us perspective. Remembering is evidence of our maturity. It reminds us there is more to life than our present circumstances or desires. We are more than flesh and blood. We are spirit and soul. We have a place where we belong forever with the saints and with God. It is an eternal place, prepared for us before we were born and a destination for us to live even after we die.
Please join us for a worship experience as we celebrate an All Saints Day of Remembrance, Sunday, October 31 at 10:00 AM. You are invited to light a candle to honor and remember a loved one who has passed from this life to the next.
