Dear Friends of God,

As I have gotten older, my short term memory is not as good as it used to be!  I walk into another room and I can’t remember what I needed to get or why I went there.  If I don’t write down an appointment, I will think that I am supposed to be somewhere, but I can’t remember where.  Remembering is vital in our everyday lives, but remembering God is even more important.

I noticed in reading through the Bible this year that God exhorts us over and over to remember Him.  It seems that one of the things that grieves Him the most is when people forget Him or leave Him out.  He loves us so much that He deeply desires to be involved in our lives.  Many times in Moses’ last sermon, which is recorded in Deuteronomy, the exhortation is to remember or not to forget.  Here are a couple examples:

“Lest your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God…”  Deuteronomy 8:14

“Then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”  Deuteronomy 6:12

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children.” Deuteronomy 4:9

In the New Testament, Jesus’ desire is that we take communion in “remembrance of Him.”  This regular reminder of who He is and what He has done for us is a way to refresh our spiritual memory.  Honoring the Sabbath each week is another way. By our stopping to keep the Sabbath and recounting the good things He has done for us, our children and grandchildren see the importance of God.

I have also been thinking about God’s command concerning the Sabbath which starts with the word “Remember.”  Remember to keep it holy—to make it a special time when we turn our attention to God to thank and honor Him.  I think of it as an activity that helps us to re-center our lives and keep God in His rightful place.  As we remember to keep the Sabbath special it also helps us to remember God as well.

Have a great day remembering God and his many benefits,

Neil