The strong, fine feel of a gun butt in the hand, the smell of leather, the odor of sage on a hot, still day, the twittering of birds, the crunch of sand under the boots, the cold, wonderful feeling of water in the throat after a long thirst, the way a woman moves when she knows an interesting man is watching, the flight of an eagle against the sky, and the storm cloud on a summer day . . . these were things he remembered, he felt, things that he had never appreciated until he thought they would soon be taken from him.”
–Louis L’Amour (Flint)
“But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
–Jude 17 (NASB)
——————————
If you read the Saturday Coffee Perc, you know that I’m always reminding my companion to “check his cinch.” Maybe you are a forgetful person, and have been told to tie a string around your finger to remind yourself of something. Sometimes the things of life tend to lull us to sleep, make us dull. WAKE UP! That’s a reminder.
I was reading last week 2 Timothy 1:6,
“For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (NASB)
The King James puts it this way, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance…”
Most of the time when reading this verse we tend to look at what we are to do. “Kindle afresh the gift of God.” Phillips says, “to stir up that inner fire.” But what caught my attention in this reading is the first part–“remind.”
The literal translation means “to regather” or “to recollect memories.” Don’t forget your past–remember where God called you from. No, don’t dwell there, don’t moan in regret, but remember when He called your name and said “follow Me.” The idea is to replay our memories over and over; get them into your mind. We are to never forget what God has done, not only for us but for others as well. We are to remember what He did by reading the holy Scriptures and calling them into our remembrance; we are to “hide His Word in our hearts…”.
We are to remember God’s faithfulness. It is part of our heritage. He has been with us from the day we were born again as a loving, faithful Father. He watches us grow, guides us through life–we are to remember that because that gives us faith in the hour in which we live. Because we remember what He has done for us we know that He will not abandon us today, nor tomorrow.
It might be put this way, “I am putting you in memory of all these things, so that by your remembering them…” (Renner) Remember God’s faithfulness so that you can now get busy fanning the flame. Do not forget! You cannot afford to push the past aside. That is one thing this “woke” crowd of “progressive culture” would like for you to do. Forget God, forget His faithfulness, forget your experience in Him.
“We have to be continually reminded of what we believe. Neither this belief nor any other will automatically remain alive in the mind. It must be fed.”
–C.S. Lewis
A professional continues to practice the basics. A soldier is always training, always improving. A musician continues to practice the scale, over and over. Only when we remember the foundation can we face the current day and put our faith to use. Don’t let the fire go out, continue to pump the bellows to give it life. Remember to do it! That’s one reason it is to recall the doctrines of our faith. Do not let the things of the world lull you to sleep, or let the fire go out. Remember!
I like the way that William Barclay puts the first part of this verse, “Remember to keep you at white heat.” As God is faithful–be faithful. As God is loyal–be loyal. As God is good–be good. As God is loving–be loving. And on I could go. Remember every morning to Whom you belong. Remember as you go through the day that you are a child of God. When troubles, trials, and toils begin to wear on you, remember His faithfulness.
——————————
If you read the Saturday Coffee Perc, you know that I’m always reminding my companion to “check his cinch.” Maybe you are a forgetful person, and have been told to tie a string around your finger to remind yourself of something. Sometimes the things of life tend to lull us to sleep, make us dull. WAKE UP! That’s a reminder.
I was reading last week 2 Timothy 1:6,
“For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (NASB)
The King James puts it this way, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance…”
Most of the time when reading this verse we tend to look at what we are to do. “Kindle afresh the gift of God.” Phillips says, “to stir up that inner fire.” But what caught my attention in this reading is the first part–“remind.”
The literal translation means “to regather” or “to recollect memories.” Don’t forget your past–remember where God called you from. No, don’t dwell there, don’t moan in regret, but remember when He called your name and said “follow Me.” The idea is to replay our memories over and over; get them into your mind. We are to never forget what God has done, not only for us but for others as well. We are to remember what He did by reading the holy Scriptures and calling them into our remembrance; we are to “hide His Word in our hearts…”.
We are to remember God’s faithfulness. It is part of our heritage. He has been with us from the day we were born again as a loving, faithful Father. He watches us grow, guides us through life–we are to remember that because that gives us faith in the hour in which we live. Because we remember what He has done for us we know that He will not abandon us today, nor tomorrow.
It might be put this way, “I am putting you in memory of all these things, so that by your remembering them…” (Renner) Remember God’s faithfulness so that you can now get busy fanning the flame. Do not forget! You cannot afford to push the past aside. That is one thing this “woke” crowd of “progressive culture” would like for you to do. Forget God, forget His faithfulness, forget your experience in Him.
“We have to be continually reminded of what we believe. Neither this belief nor any other will automatically remain alive in the mind. It must be fed.”
–C.S. Lewis
A professional continues to practice the basics. A soldier is always training, always improving. A musician continues to practice the scale, over and over. Only when we remember the foundation can we face the current day and put our faith to use. Don’t let the fire go out, continue to pump the bellows to give it life. Remember to do it! That’s one reason it is to recall the doctrines of our faith. Do not let the things of the world lull you to sleep, or let the fire go out. Remember!
I like the way that William Barclay puts the first part of this verse, “Remember to keep you at white heat.” As God is faithful–be faithful. As God is loyal–be loyal. As God is good–be good. As God is loving–be loving. And on I could go. Remember every morning to Whom you belong. Remember as you go through the day that you are a child of God. When troubles, trials, and toils begin to wear on you, remember His faithfulness.