Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 30, 2016
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6
Remember is a command from God. He knows how I tend to forget. I forget that Christ is always close by—even when He feels distant. I forget the Holy Spirit is ever available to comfort my heart—especially when I feel fearful. I forget my heavenly Father is gracious to give me wisdom when I face uncertainty. Like a sports enthusiast—I am learning to replay in my mind and heart victories the Lord has given me over the years. Mentors have shown me how to avoid their mistakes. Friends have remained faithful in spite of my failures. I remember not to forget.
What does God want us to remember? We are instructed to remember the Sabbath—set apart one day a week to rest and worship the Lord (Exodus 20:8). Christ commanded us to remember His sacrifice when we commune with Him by observing the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:24). Jesus also told us to remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Paul emphasizes the principle of sowing and reaping. Our seeds of generosity reap more generosity where they are generously sown. We remember to over seed selfless deeds into another’s fallow faith.
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent” (Revelation 2:5, ESV).
Are you stuck in a short-term memory of worry or do you rest in the long-term reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness? Remember to forgive liberally for you have been fully forgiven by your heavenly Father. Remember you were a slave to sin, but now you have been set free by the Holy Spirit. Remember in your own strength you live exhausted and defeated, but by the power of Christ you live energized and victorious. The sweet memory of your Savior’s love during a difficult time is enough to shout hallelujah and praise Jesus. Remember God loves you lavishly.
Every day we are wise to renew our minds with what God thinks of us. We are His precious children. Grand parenting is one of the few things in life that is not overrated. When I think of how my heart feels when one of our six grand babies looks me in the eyes and says, “I love you Pop”—I understand a tiny bit the limitless love God has for me—His son. What matters most is what Jesus thinks of us: His friend—His confidant—His beloved. Our mind may experience momentary memory block, but in prayer we take captive each thought for Christ and He helps us remember!
“I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law” (Psalm 119:55, ESV).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me remember moment by moment Your great love for me.Related Reading
Deuteronomy 8:2; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Luke 22:19; 2 Peter 3:1-2Post/Tweet today
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Each and every devotional from Wisdom Hunters is nothing less than a blessing, encouragement and a reminder. I do have a question: does the reference to Rev. 2:5 mean that we can have our salvation removed, our names removed from the Lamb’s book of life? I have always heard “once saved, always saved” except for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Can someone please explain this to me because I truly do not know. Thank you
Dear A.C,
Happy New Year! Thank you for reaching out to us with your kind and encouraging comments about the Wisdom Hunter’s devotionals. We are grateful that you have been blessed by them.
What a great question regarding Rev 2:5. When someone in our Wisdom Hunter’s family comes up with these thought-provoking questions, it is a blessing because I am able to dig deep into His Word and seek Him out! So, thank you!
“Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampshade from its place.” Rev 2:5
My understanding of this verse is that as believers we sometimes “lose the zeal” we had as a new believer and possibly over time, start to minimize our need to repent for our sins and our command to do good works as we once did. As I try to understand this verse more, I see that when Paul ministered in Ephesus, he commended the new believers of Ephesus for their zest for loving God and others.
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1: 15-16
In Revelation 2, John is addressing the church of Ephesus, a city where he spent a great deal of time.
When I was “digging deeper” about the meaning of the second part of the verse: “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampshade from its place”, I was guided to related scripture that helped explain this to me.
Matthew 5:15 says “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
Hebrews 10:32 says “Remember those earlier days after you received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.”
Philippians 2: 15 says “…so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault n a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…”
After reading those verses and studying Rev 2:5 again, my thoughts are that the words “I will come to you and remove your lampshade from its place”refers to the warning Jesus gave to the church of Ephesus that He would remove the “light” that the church was giving to the people in that area (His Light).
A.C., don’t you think this very same warning applies to us in present times? Does His Light continue to shine through us when our enthusiasm and “zest for Him” starts to weaken?
As far as your original question about “once saved always saved”, again, I go to the Word and I am reminded that it is by grace we are saved, not by works.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift from God- not by works so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8
“He then brought them out and asked, Sirs what can I do to be saved? They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved- you and your household.”
Acts 2:30-31
Finally A.C, John 10:28-29 proclaims our salvation is secure: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
Praise God!!!
A.C., Let me know if you would like to discuss this further (gwynne@wisdomhuters.com). Please know we are so thankful for you and look forward to hearing from you again sometime.
May God bless you and yours in the upcoming year.
A sister in Christ,
Gwynne