Category: remembering

“Son, Remember”

Neal Pollard

Communities began days of remembrance shortly after the Civil War to commemorate their fallen soldiers. Some of the first commemorations are said to have been held by former slaves in South Carolina. However, Waterloo, New York, was named the official birthplace of Memorial Day because it hosted an annual, community-wide event where businesses closed and the graves of the fallen were decorated with flowers and flags (more here). To me, it is one of the nobler holidays as it expresses appreciation for those who sacrificed so much for our freedom and continued existence in this nation. 

God knows humanity needs remembrance. The rainbow was His first memorial for man (Gen. 9:12-17). In Deuteronomy, Moses repeatedly exhorts Israel to remember the covenant and commands of the Law. Later generations were in trouble when they forgot and blessed when they remembered.

In the New Testament, there are a couple of words for “remember.” One, mnēmoneuō, “Denotes the action of keeping in mind or thinking of something or someone; it can also mean to mention something in the past or future” (Jones, Lexham Theological Wdbk, np).  The other, mimnēskomai, means to recall information from memory, think of and call attention to something, and give careful consideration to (BDAG, 652).

Walk through the New Testament and see all the circumstances where God wants us to remember. This is far from exhaustive, but God urges us to:

  • Remember an offended brother (Matt. 5:23)
  • Remember the words of Jesus (John 15:20; Acts 20:35)
  • Remember important spiritual influences in your life (Acts 20:31)
  • Remember Christ in the Supper (1 Cor. 11:24-25)
  • Remember the poor (Gal. 2:10)
  • Remember past spiritual defeats as motivation to serve (Eph. 2:11-12)
  • Remember the hurting (2 Tim. 1:4)
  • Remember past spiritual victories as motivation to keep serving (Heb. 10:32)
  • Remember the ill-treated for the cause of Christ (Heb. 13:3)
  • Remember the faith of your spiritual leaders (Heb. 13:7)
  • Remember the words of the prophets and apostles (2 Pet. 3:2; Jude 17)
  • Remember from where you are fallen (Rev. 2:5)

There are literally dozens of uses of these Greek words calling for us to remember. Age and disuse may rob us of remembering all the details of everything, but some things must be retained and reviewed for our own spiritual good. Abraham once told a rich, negligent man in torment, “Son, remember…” (Luke 16:25). For him it was too late, but for us it is not.

There are some things worth remembering. In fact, some things are essential. It is admirable and healthy to remember those who died fighting for our nation. What a price! In our daily, spiritual battle, memory is key to our ultimate survival! May God sharpen our minds to remember the things He values as most important to Him (and us)! 

Ready Wreck Collection

Neal Pollard

Shortly after I moved to Colorado to preach for the Bear Valley congregation, some unknown prankster gave me one of the coolest gifts I have ever owned. In a large blister card, sealed in plastic with a cardboard backing, there were eight Matchbox cars that had been smashed and semi-crushed. At the top of the cardboard backing was an inscription: “Everybody always prays for the preacher to have a ‘ready wreck collection,’ so here it is. Your very own wreck collection.” That was nearly 17 years ago and it still sits in my office today. What a genius prank!

Preachers greatly appreciate those prayers. Much study and preparation goes into each lesson and we want to remember what and how to say what we plan to present. “Ready” implies we don’t have to struggle. “Recollection” is the ability to recall what is in the mind (or on the page).

Have you ever thought about how vital a ready recollection is for all of us as Christians, as we live our daily lives?

  • When the world tries to give you a rival, recall that the Lord is God, and there is no other (Isa. 46:8-9).
  • When you are afflicted, recall the Lord’s lovingkindness (Lam. 3:19-22).
  • When you are so troubled you cannot speak, remember your song in the night (Psa. 77:4-6).
  • When you feel forgotten, remember the deeds and wonders of God (Psa. 77:11).
  • Whether life is going great or poorly, remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth (1 Chron. 16:8-12).
  • When you are afraid, remember the Lord who is great and awesome (Neh. 4:14).
  • Before the difficult days come, remember your Creator in your youth (Ecc. 12:1).
  • When you hit a spiritual low point, remember your sin and hate it (Ezek. 20:43-44).
  • When faced with the needs of the weak, remember how Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
  • When looking at your past, remember what you were but thank God for what you are now in Christ (Eph. 2:12-13).
  • Whatever your circumstance, remember Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:8).

Walk through Scripture and see how often it says to “recall” and “remember.” The Lord’s Supper is instituted as a weekly reminder for us to recall the price paid for us. God knows that we can become lax and forgetful. All of us are served well by having ready recollections. Let’s build our collection of the things we need to remember to spiritually survive this world and prepare ourselves for an eternity in the presence of the great God who has done so much for us!

THE VALUE OF REMEMBERING

Neal Pollard

I am not sure what the connection is, but some people tie a string around their finger to remember an important date or appointment.  Some people just write on their hand.  Others preserve it electronically.

What do we do to keep from forgetting what is important to us spiritually?  Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:12-13 that he was stirring them up by reminding them.  Studying God’s Word awakens our memory to things we may have forgotten, things we have not looked deeply into in the past, or brings something to our attention in a way it has not previously.  It is noteworthy that he was reminding them of something they already knew.  False teachers were trying to distract and deceive them from what they knew.

Bible study is good for us to keep from falling into the traps of false teaching. Many of us come to the Lord from religious groups that teach something different from the Bible about salvation, worship, the end of time, leadership, or the like.  Keep your Bible and your heart open to what you study, and you will keep reminding yourself of the joy and blessings of New Testament Christianity.

Later in the letter, Peter writes, “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandments of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior” (3:1-2).  That covers everything–the Old Testament and the New Testament.  It is also a reminder that if you live another 50 or 75 years, you will always need to study and remind yourself of what the Bible says on every subject.

If you have ever lost or forgotten something important that cost you in some way, you learned the value of remembering.  If you have ever been to a memorial or monument, you have benefited from that reflection.  If you want to grow in your faith and knowledge, be stirred up by being reminded of the important, spiritual things revealed in Scripture.

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