Remembering
Remembering
A pastor visiting an elderly member of his church asked if she ever thought about the “hereafter.” “Yes,” she said. “Whenever I enter a room in my house, I wonder what I’m here after.”
If you are anything like me, your memory is not what it used to be. I’m sure my memory is backed up somewhere; it’s just that my hard drive fails far too often. More frustratingly, I know that my ‘forgettery’ is working just fine. Writing things down has become almost mandatory. My wife lovingly calls it: ‘Stress induced amnesia.’
We all love remembering special milestones in our lives, like birthdays and anniversaries. Last year we had a special church centenary celebration. As a nation, we have many special days that we observe. Our country also has many monuments reminding us of the sacrifices of many people in so many ways down through the years.
God knew that the children of Israel would also inevitably forget the important things in life. That is why they were to celebrate the Passover every year. This – and many other festivals – was to remind them of significant ways in which He had led them through important events. In my reading this week I was reminded of the instruction of God to take twelve stones after they had crossed the River Jordan. They were to make a monument, so that they and their children would recall His past faithfulness to them.
Every week during communion we remember what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the Cross. It’s a special time for us. We do this ‘in remembrance of Him.’ So we don’t forget. So we can learn to love Him more. This is just one of many ways God has blessed us. We love to sing the old hymn ‘Count your many blessings.’ How many blessings have you remembered today? Why not try counting them – or even writing them down? And it ‘will surprise what the Lord has done.’
˄TH