Thought for Today
Genesis 9:15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy.
Mark 8:18 Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember?
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
“Do you remember when . . .” A common question for those of us “of an age.” As we age, memory becomes an issue for us all. Actually, I prefer to think that instead of having a failing memory, my mental hard drive is becoming full and I am experiencing increasingly longer wait times while my brain searches for the file in question. Cynics might suggest that I am also experiencing increasing file corruption; but, I choose to ignore those cynics.
Soon after I began working as an adult, I learned the utility of Post-it Notes™. I still use a variety of sticky notes with reminders of verses, appointments, and all the other things cluttering up my memory. I have a paper planning calendar, I use the calendar function on my computer, I use alarms clocks and a plethora of other memory jogging devices. I still forget stuff!
We live in a ‘hurry up’ world. We live lives crammed full of information, appointments, special dates, bills to pay, people to meet, deadlines looming over our heads and all other sorts of things we need to remember. I sometimes wonder how my parents, their parents and all the preceding generations ever survived without reminders on their (not-yet-invented) smart phones, tablets and computers. Thank goodness, they all found a way.
What have I just forgotten?!? Surely I have just forgotten something! Oh no, where was I? Words I utter often. Words of truth about my . . . our ‘hurry up’ world and ‘hurry up’ lives.
Our faith speaks to memory, remembering and remembrances. It suggests to us that there are some things whose remembering should be prioritized, e.g. “Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy.” Of course, as a Christian, I sometimes think I should answer Jesus’ questions, “Yes, I do have eyes that no long see unaided. Yes, many of us have ears that no longer hear without aid.”
Thankfully, I can also answer, “Yes, I do remember the gospel.” I do remember God’s promise to Noah. I remember Jesus’ promise in the Great Commission, “I am with you always, to the end of the age." I may not be able to remember what I had for dinner last night, but I always remember Jesus’ promise. I remember that ‘always’ means always. No matter what, Jesus is right there with me. When I search for a word or a date in my memory, Jesus is right there with me, reminding me of God’s love and God’s promises. Jesus is telling me to calm down, reminding me “Do not be afraid.”
Jesus spoke those words of the Great Commission to his disciples. He comforted that loyal band of followers who had been with him during his earthly ministry. The ones who had stood by during the betrayal, trial, Crucifixion, and who then learned of and participated in the Resurrection. After it all, “Matthew 28:16 the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Jesus delegated some of that authority to those 11, and through them to us. We are to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” All we need to do is to remember that and then to go do that.
Stay safe, remember and do, trust God,
Pastor Ray