Remember!

Remember!

Quite a few years ago the LORD began teaching me some crazy things about the word “REMEMBER.” It’s hard for me to believe that He is still teaching me about that very word. Every time I hear that word or come across it in Scripture it makes me smile because the word itself causes me to REMEMBER what the LORD has taught me about remembering. Kind of funny, I must admit! However, the word also brings to my mind a kind of challenge. Let me tell you why.
The word ‘remember’ actually means: to recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory; think of again; to retain in the memory; remain aware of or to have (something) come into the mind again. Often times throughout the Old Testament it is said of God that He remembers His promises to His people. Take for instance the rainbow. It was God’s promise to His people that He will never flood the earth again (Genesis 9:15). On the other hand, there are many times throughout the Bible where we, as followers of Christ and children of God, are told to REMEMBER the things He has done for us. In Exodus 13:3 Moses told the children of Israel to “REMEMBER this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the LORD brought you out from this place.” Numbers 15:40 says, “Thus you will REMEMBER and obey all my commandments and be holy to your God.” In the New Testament Paul encourages his readers to REMEMBER that they were formerly separated from Christ and under bondage to sin. His point in telling the Church at Ephesus this was not to depress them with the sinful past they had, but to encourage them to give God the credit for all that He had done for them.
Go with me for a moment, back to the part of the definition that said, “think of again.” It is impossible to REMEMBER something that you have not previously known, seen, or experienced, right? Each of us has experienced God in our own personal and intimate way and I’m sure I could sit down with each of you and hear a different story about all that the Lord has brought you though and blessed you with. This is where the challenge begins. Because, all too often… we FORGET!
In those moments when it seems that everything is going wrong and your temper is quickly wandering away, soon to be lost; or in those times of emergency or crisis when we are not sure what to do next; or perhaps in the ordinary hum-drum of our every day lives, we forget! We forget that the very God of the universe, who with words, spoke all that there is into existence loves us with an unlimited, unconditional, eternal love. We forget that last time we felt this way, He provided for our needs and He pulled us through. We forget that His right hand is holding us up (Psalm 18:35). For me it is so hard to REMEMBER and so easy to forget, why is that?
I might not know why it is, but Scripture offers us some great ideas about how to REMEMBER more. In Joshua 4 there is the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan river. This was a big deal for them because, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness the Israelites were finally heading toward the promise land. However, after crossing the river the Israelites paused and took some time to set up a pile of 12 stones (one for each tribe) in order to commemorate the crossing and that in years to come when the children of Israel saw the stones they would REMEMBER and tell the story from generation to generation. Feel free to read the story from Joshua 3:1 – Joshua 4:7. We might not have 12 large stones from the bottom of the Jordan but let me encourage you to go outside at some point in the next few day, perhaps go on a walk with Jesus, and along the way purpose to REMEMBER just a few stories from your life of when the LORD did something worth REMEMBERING. Just think of a few and for each one pick up a little stone to help you to REMEMBER. Set the stones somewhere you will see them like in the kitchen windowsill. You can even be brave and set them somewhere others will see them so when they ask, you can testify to God’s goodness. If stones are not your thing, then collect something else. The challenge is just to do something simple to help us REMEMBER how great and good our God is, in hopes that we will live in light of that. Be encouraged… REMEMBER!

Through His strength, for His glory
kelsey