Today is a day of remembrance in America as we memorialize those who lost their lives on September 11, twenty-three years ago. There are ceremonies all around the United States today as large cities and small communities remember the attack and the loss of life associated with that day. Remembrance is a good thing.
God is a God who remembers. All through scripture we are told that he remembers his covenants and remembers his people. He even placed a rainbow in the sky as a reminder of his covenant with Noah and his creation. But God calls us to remember as well.
He called on Israel to remember what He did to Pharoah (Dt. 17:18) on behalf of his people. We need to remember the things in our past from which God has delivered us. We are told to remember the Lord our God who gives us the ability to produce wealth (Dt. 8:18). We need to remember that God is our provider so we give thanks to him for all we have. Israel was commanded to remember their departure from Egypt through the celebration of Passover from generation to generation. The Lord’s supper calls us to remember his sacrifice and our deliverance from bondage each time we partake of the bread and the cup.
It would be wise of us to mark off certain times in our lives to intentionally remember who God is and all the things he has done for us…provision, protection, salvation, belonging, and the promises of eternal life that still lie ahead.
To be casual about these things leads to a failure to remember. In scripture, remembrance is more than just checking a “fact box” about the past, but it is remembering to the depth that we re-experience the moment. For those surrounding the Twin Towers Memorial this morning and reading the names of the dead, they are reimagining the sounds, the odor, the dust, the shock, the fear, the horror of the morning as well as countless expressions of bravery and sacrifice. That kind of remembrance stirs us to act or to resolve. We will not let certain things happen again and we will aspire to be courageous like those first-responders who ran into the towers on that morning.
The danger in forgetting is real. Nehemiah, speaking of Israel in his day, said “They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff- necked in their rebellion…” (Neh. 9:17). To forget is to risk becoming stubborn and rebellious because remembrance is one of the things that keeps our self-centered, self-sufficient, and rebellious flesh in check.
Morning devotionals are a great time to remember. Sundays while we worship are a great time to remember. Spiritual birthdays, Easter, and New Years are great times to remember. Take the time. Be intentional. Write down the things God has done for you, saved you from, blessed you with, and saved you for. Keep a record that you review and add to each time you remember. Remember to remember.