What Do You Remember? part 2, Loving God, part XXXII

Today we’re continuing the message on remembering. Last time we focused on the Old Testament and now we’ll focus the New Testament.

Before we start with that, however, I’d like to share some things that can help us to remember.

If you’ve been reading my messages for a period time, you might know one of my favorite verses:

Joshua 1: 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
I love this verse. It’s so clear. This is one verse I’ve remembered. Have you ever read the Word in the morning and thought about it in the afternoon only to forget what you’ve read? It’s like watching a movie one night, then completely forgetting about it the next day. Apparently it didn’t make a lasting impression.
So the question is, “How can we take what we read and make it last so that we are thinking of it later in the day?”  I realize that the impression the content makes may vary from book to book. Reading Numbers 2 is nothing like reading Luke 2. Although I am convinced that there is something to be learned from each of the 1189 chapters in the Book, some are more interesting than others. This is understandable, learn what you can where you’re reading.

Here are some ideas to get the most from reading and for meditation:

Invite the Teacher to join you and open your heart
This is by far the most important tip. This is a great way of clearing our mind of whatever thoughts we might have as we open up our Bibles. When we are serious about seeking God, He will acknowledge it and see to it that we hear His voice. Simply pray “Lord, help me to focus on your Word. Please open my heart and give me understanding.”

Discuss it with someone
This would be the second most important tip. This can be very exciting and everyone learns when spiritual truths are revealed and ideas are exchanged.

 What version are you reading?
If you are reading the King James Version and have a hard time with King James English, like me, then maybe it’s time to find an updated version. My preference is the New Living Translation. The book of Job went from somewhat confusing (reading the NASB) to an incredibly beautiful and thought provoking book when reading the NLT.
Expect to learn something
Even when reading the most familiar passage, there is always something new to be learned or at the very least it will be fresh in your mind and may be of use to share with a friend that day.
Ask questions
Don’t just gloss over the text, try to understand it. For example:
Matthew 11: 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
What does this mean anyway? I think I understand it, and even if I do, do I find this to be the truth in my life? I truly think that few Christians completely understand this and experience it.
Highlight or underline verses
As the questions are asked and the revelations are made, highlight the intriguing verses and put question marks in the margins. For many years for whatever reason I chose not to mark up my Bibles, I’m glad I broke that rule!
Keep a journal
What are you learning from your reading? How is it being applied to your life? What questions will you ask God when you see Him?
For more tips visit the website: TheBibleTeam.com

 Now for the rest of the message…

Here are some things to remember from the New Testament…
 Luke 17: 31 On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home. 32 Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! 33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.

Here we see Jesus reminding His audience about Lot’s wife. Many people even today know about Lot’s wife. When reading about her in Genesis it is shocking and it may not be obvious why it happens, but this verse illustrates the meaning and He uses it for application.  If you don’t, I won’t spoil it, you can read about her in Genesis. Read Genesis 18-19 to read the account.

Luke 22: 19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”
 The practice of communion is all about remembering the work that Christ did on the cross. God is a practical God and it’s not just some religious thing to do, but it should remind us of this:
 Hebrews 10: 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
 Isn’t this a great verse to remember?
Later in that same chapter:
Hebrews 10: 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

And then in chapter 12 the author has this to say…

Hebrews 12:  5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

Who wants to live forever? Count me in!

I’ll leave you with just one more verse on remembering:

3 John 1: 11 …Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

If we can only remember what we read, we can then meditate on it and that leads to a life changing process.

What will you remember?

“Dear God, Please help me retain your Word so that I will follow you more closely. You are the Bread of life and I never want to take you or your Word for granted. Thank you for leading me into your Truth and for the grand journey ahead. In Jesus’ name, amen”

Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash



What Do You Remember? part I, Loving God, part XXXI

Do you remember things well? While I have problems remembering where I put something or what my wife said to me 10 minutes ago, I can remember phone numbers and baseball statistics very well. As a kid, I memorized words to songs and scripture verses fairly easily, but I seem to have the hardest time memorizing either today.

If there’s one thing I learned from reading God’s Word it’s that he wants us to remember Him and what His Word has to say.

I really do want to memorize Scripture but I think remembering the promises God has kept and God’s character is just as important. Memorizing the order of the books may have value but remembering how God came through for the people of Israel and for the individuals is invaluable.

Reading and knowing the history of God’s people builds our faith in Him. On a more personal and meaningful level, remembering the history of God in our own lives also helps to build our faith.

What has God done in your life?

Although Psalm 107 is rather obscure and I encourage you to read it. This is last verse:

Psalm 107: 43 Those who are wise will take all this to heart;

they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.

If you took a poll I think most people would describe the “God of the Old Testament” as “an angry and vengeful God”, as opposed to the “Loving and caring God” of the New Testament. If this is the case, God is getting a bad rap. Recently I was sharing with someone who was not a believer about reading the Old Testament and all they could say about it was that there was a lot of “blood and guts” in it. That was her impression.

What comes to your mind when you think about the Old Testament?

Let me suggest to you that if the faithful love of the Lord does not come to mind, maybe you should read it again.

You can read in these verses the importance God has for His people to remember. Although they were originally meant for the Israelites, there is much we can learn from these verses today:

Esther 9: 26 …Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews took it upon themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. 28 These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews, nor should the memory of them die out among their descendants.

Can you imagine? The events in Esther took place around 2,500 years ago and Jews still celebrate Purim. Isn’t that incredible?

Joshua 4: 5 He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 6 We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.”

Can you see how important to God it is that we remember?

I love how God had the Israelites build this memorial so that they could remember that God stopped the Jordan river from flowing so that they could cross.

Deuteronomy 4: 9 “But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

What has God done in your life that you can pass down to your children and grandchildren? What miracles or answered prayers can you remember that you can rely on when you need it?

Deuteronomy 4: 39 “So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other. 40 If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.

It’s always good to remember how good your Father in Heaven is

Feel free to replace “land the Lord your God is giving you” with eternal life/heaven. This is very good to remember, maybe I should put it up on my wall somewhere, hmmm…

Deuteronomy 8: 18 Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

If I ever feel prideful, this is a good thing to remember.

The Bible is full of these verses that give life and lead to eternal life. The key is to read it and meditate on it so that it will “come to mind” when we are faced with choices and/or are asked for advice. This is what being a believer in God is all about, knowing who He is and how we can live a life that is pleasing to Him.

This wraps it up for this post. I’ll have more to remember from the New Testament next time.

What will you remember?

“Dear God, I thank you for your Word. I thank you that we can learn about you and that you’ve made a way for us to know you on a personal level. Please help me to know you more and remember what you have to tell us. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash