A Perfect Friend?

The Bible is really repetitive. I don’t mean that it’s boring—far from it! But throughout the Old Testament, God sends people called prophets to speak to the Israelites on His behalf. And, while they did predict future events, the prophets were mostly sent to tell Israel what they already knew: follow God’s good law. The prophets would call on the Israelites to remember the Lord and all He has done for His people.

When God tells us to remember something, He doesn’t mean “Store this away in a dusty compartment in your brain.†Rather, He’s saying “Keep this truth in front of you all the time. Tie it to your forehead. Talk to others about it. Let the reminders of My love change your life.â€

Amazingly, this is also how God remembers us! When the Bible talks about God “remembering†something or someone, it doesn’t mean He had forgotten about it. Rather, when God remembers, it means that He is paying special attention. And, as we see in Isaiah, God remembers us this way—we are always before Him.

Remembering is a purposeful action. It’s kind of like remembering that you have a doctor’s appointment—it doesn’t do much good to know you have a doctor’s appointment if you never actually go to it. In the same way, remembering the truth of who God is and what He has done for us will lead us to action.

So, what exactly should we be remembering? First and foremost, we remember Jesus. When He gave communion to His disciples, Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.†Every time we take communion, we pay special attention to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and we look forward to the day of His return (Matthew 26:29). When we keep this gospel truth in front of us continually (not just during communion), it changes the way we look at everyday life. It’s a truth that never gets boring, no matter how many times you repeat it. • Taylor Eising

• Why do we need reminders about who Jesus is? What are some ways you can remind yourself and others about the amazing truth of the gospel?

• How might remembering the gospel change the way you interact with others? What about the way you view responsibilities, tasks, and fun activities?

Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Deuteronomy 6:7-8 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Luke 6:31; John 15:12-15; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:11