Remembering
by Nancy Harry
When the first man and woman decided to trust a deceiver and a liar instead of God, the very one that created them, they opened the door for sin to flood mankind. From them, we have all received a sin nature; a pull towards evil instead of good. A nature we need to fight against and overcome.
We see this so easily displayed in small children and sometimes big children. If you would let them to their own devices most likely they would get themselves into a lot of trouble. This is one good reason why God ordained families. A family gives them the benefit of a mother and father to love them; encourage, correct, train, and advise them as they grew into mature adults.
In the same way, God continues to train and correct and guide us; so we can build character, become more like him, and with his love grow into maturity.
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves as a father the son he delights in. (Proverbs 3:11-12)NIV
Some people think God is waiting to send hardships and sickness their way or waiting with a whip just to catch them in the slightest sin or mistake. This is not true. As Believers, God calls us his children. Would you wish disaster on your children? Of course not! Neither would God. It was out of his love for us that he even took the risk to willingly sacrifice his own son to re-establish a relationship with us. He wants the best for us. He said we would be inheritors with Christ. He wants us to have it all. Just as we reward our children and love to give them good gifts, God rewards us with blessings and promises.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights (James 1:17) NIV
How does He correct and teach us? He sent His Holy Spirit to live in us to guide and direct us by speaking to our hearts. He gave us the Bible to teach us how to live, how to love each other, and how to love Him. When our hearts are full of God’s love, his discipline – his guidelines, his ways - becomes common sense advice that motivates us to righteous action.
David says of the Lord: He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake…your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:3, 4)NIV
A rod was often used as a symbol of authority by the rulers of that day, so it denotes authority and power. It was also used by shepherds to guide, rescue and protect their sheep. The staff was often used for support as well. Today, Christ is our shepherd and we are his sheep. We are corrected with the guidance of his Word and by his Holy Spirit. With his love and compassion, he supports our efforts to please him. He comes to our rescue when we are in trouble and offers us his protection.
We want our children to learn by obeying our word, so they don’t have to experience harmful consequences. In the same way, God wants us to learn through his Word, so we don’t have to experience the consequences of sin.
If a parent says don’t touch the hot stove, it is to protect the child. If a parent says don’t run out into the street, it is for the child’s good. God tells us not to do certain things so we won’t get hurt. If we do it anyway, we pay the consequences. That is the punishment that is brought upon us. It’s the nature of sin that destroys, not God.
A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)NIV
As Jesus was dying on the cross he said, “it is finished”. He had completed all he was sent to do.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man [Jesus] the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19) NIV
God’s son paid all debts. And so the curse has been lifted, the punishments have been halted. In his son’s name; blessings abound on both the good and the bad. He doesn’t demand retribution as in days of old. There is a new disposition. A new dispensation. He is here to help us no matter what comes our way. His mercy and grace protects and saves us. He is a restoring God. How awesome is is love for us.
When we take time to remove ourselves from our daily activities we are released from them to worship God, to remember him. We can so easily forget. In everyone’s busyness it doesn’t take long for his name to slip to the wayside. But he is the creator and the blesser. It’s not good to forget who he is. Take time from the pressures of your everyday life and remember him and all the good he does for you. Don’t be found guilty of lacking wisdom and thankfulness. His heart's desire is to be remembered by his people. So please him; by remembering him and being thankful for his many blessings.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
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