remember...

Folks have "encouraged" me for years with lines like this... "it only gets worse from here!" That encouragement comes in response to something about me forgetting. I tell people all the time - "Let me write it down. If I write it down there is about a 50-50 chance I will remember. If I don't write it down there is no chance!" For years I have been encouraged that it is a sign of old age... and it only gets worse... THANKS!

How about you? There is a truth about us... we are habitual forgetters. I know some of us have perfected forgetting better than others... but we all forget. Sometimes my forgetting is worse... more embarassing... than others - it all depends on what I have forgotten!

It caught my attention yesterday while reading 2 Timothy 2. Paul told the young apprentice missionary Timothy to "remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel." Of all the things Paul reminded Timothy of in his two short letters, this is the most shocking to me. Why? Why would he think it was necessary to remind Timothy to remember Jesus... to remember the resurrection... to remember Jesus' lineage... to remember the Gospel?

Maybe because Timothy, like me - and maybe like you, could easily forget. Forget Jesus? Surely this does not mean completely forget Jesus... so it must mean to not remember some specific things about Jesus. Paul is telling Timothy to keep Jesus always on his mind. Paul is saying to remember that Jesus was raised from the dead... since that is true several other things are true as well.
Jesus was raised... faith is not vain.
Jesus was raised... sin has been paid for.
Jesus was raised... death has been defeated.
Jesus was raised... you can have real hope.
Jesus was raised... never to die again.
Jesus was raised... you will be raised as well.
Jesus was raised!

Paul wants Timothy to remember where Jesus came from... descended of David. Why? GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES. You do not have to read very far in one of the geneologies of Jesus to see that God works in all kinds of people... in all kinds of situations... when folks are working for God... and when they are seemingly working against God... in order to keep His promises. Even when there seemed to be no way God could keep His promises... He did.
descended... you can count on God
descended... God will never fail you
descended... what He has promised He will do.

Today... remember!

where have I been?

You only have to look for a second or two to realize that I have been much of a blogger lately. Thanks to several of you who have encouraged me to start back up. This is a warning... more blogging to come!