is for Remember.
And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” -Luke 23:42
Activity: Memory. Get out a deck of cards and lay them out in a grid on the table. Take turns as a family revealing one card and then another in an attempt to get two matching numbers. When your numbers do match, you get to collect the cards as a point and take another turn. Continue until all the cards are collected. At the end, whoever has the most points, wins the game.
What is your earliest memory?
One of the sad truths about life is that there are so many wonderful memories that we make each and every day, and unfortunately we will forget most of them. No matter how hard we try to focus and concentrate, we just cannot remember everything. Sometimes we even forget important stuff.
The Third Commandment reminds us to remember the Sabbath day. That means, don’t forget to take a day and remember all the good things God has done for His people, and especially for you. We remember the sabbath day by reading the Bible, by worshipping at church, and by learning in Sunday school. But sometimes we forget. We forget how wonderful God is, we forget all the blessings He has given us, and we forget how exciting it is to have a God who is so good.
We forget God.
But God doesn’t forget us. Christmas is proof of God’s perfect memory. In the Old Testament He promised to: stay close to His people (Jer. 23:23) to save His people (Gen.3:15) to send a King to reign forever (Dan. 7:14) and that The One who would come would show love by healing His people (Is. 35:5-6).
Jesus being born in Bethlehem was God remembering His promise to love you and me. And the promises don’t stop there. Jesus made promises too, promises that we can count on. Jesus pledged to be with us always (Mt. 28:20). He assures us that He will bring us into life forever (Jn.11:25). And He even promises to help us remember by giving us the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:26).
God’s memory is perfect, but in the book of Isaiah chapter 43, it tells us one thing God DOES NOT remember, our sin. And what good news that is! And even that is only because of the baby who would go to the cross to wipe them away.
PRAYER: Dear God, Thank you for Jesus, the proof that you remember and love us. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN