Our minds are truly wonderfully and marvelously made. One of the great benefits of the mind that the Lord has provided to each of us is our memory. It not only serves us well by familiarity and in helping us in the duties we perform, but it helps us stay on track in regard to difficulties and decisions. Our memory aids us in the many experiences of living. We draw from the things we have encountered in our personal histories. The word “remember” is translated from a Greek word that means to recall, bring to mind, and rehearse. This word is shown in importance by being used 30 times in the New Testament. Our memories guard us from danger and also give us great pleasure. We all have bad memories, and we learn from those, and they act as protection in future situations. We all also have a resource of memories of those we love who are no longer with us, yet we carry them with fondness in our memories. Praise God that He has designed us with minds that that carry the rich resource of memories.

Scripture commands us to draw from our memories certain things that will spiritually benefit us. We are commanded to bring to our memory important priorities that we have learned and are stored by God’s grace in the resources of our mind. We are repeatedly told to remember the words spoken by our Lord. We are also told to, “Remember the poor” (Gal. 2:10). We, as Gentiles, are to, “Remember that we were separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). We are told to, “Remember the prisoners (those in prison for their faith) as though you were in prison with them” (Hebrews 13:3). In the letters to the churches, our Lord says to the church at Ephesus concerning their loss of their first love, “Remember from where you have fallen and repent and do the deeds you did at first” (Revelation 2:5). In all of these and more commands related to memory, we are to draw from what we have experienced in God’s providence and apply them by faith to do as our Lord commands. In reference to all of these there is great blessing and great benefit in our walk of faith and service to our Lord.

Among all the blessings and benefits we are to remember, the greatest is found in Paul’s second letter to Timothy. He says, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal, but the word of God is not imprisoned” (2 Timothy 2:8-9). Paul is telling Timothy that to live as a Christian will bring difficulties into the life. He has just told him to, “Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). But he says in the midst of the difficulties, the word of God will yet reign through those difficulties. It is by the fruit of faith overcoming circumstances that the word of God prevails and shines against the dark background. We must not shy away from troubles or allow them to deter us in our walk of faith and obedience to our Lord. This is the intention of what Paul tells Timothy, but it is also true for us today.

What is key to me in this great and significant commanding encouragement is the phrase, “Remember Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:8). This is followed by a brief explanation of His credentials as the promised Messiah and proved so by His resurrection from the dead. The point being to Timothy and to us is that foremost we are to remember in all things our Lord Jesus Christ. When I bring to remembrance who He is and what He has done, everything else that is temporary pales by comparison. If I remember that I have Jesus Christ as my Savior, I have everything and I can overcome anything. What we should always draw from our memory is foremost Jesus Christ. Paul is saying that is what he does and must do, and he commands and exhorts Timothy and us to do the same. The importance is seen in His resurrection. Jesus Christ is truly alive and we know at the right hand of the Father, and that He is coming again. We are to remember this by placing it foremost in the frontal of our memory. We are to therefore live by always having this reality before us and worshipping and serving Him from our heart.

Today, bringing Jesus Christ to our memory, helps us to remember that He controls all the things that are happening to us each moment. We don’t need to worry even in the depths of our troubles or sorrows because He is on the throne and no one can thwart His will. We know He has a good purpose in all our lives, and He will never leave or forsake us.  As we remember Him, what should we be doing? We should be turning to Him in prayer. “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Beloved, we should place our remembrance of Jesus Christ constantly before us. This I believe is what is intended by the statement, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).  As the hymn says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” Remember Jesus Christ!