Remember

Luke 2:41-42 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.
 
WE have seen in previous lessons how Mary and Joseph were faithful to remember God’s law. Luke 2:20-24 records that they took their newborn son Jesus to the priest for circumcision and Mary’s post-pregnancy cleansing ritual. This passage further affirms this couple is faithful and righteous continue to remember and obey the Lord’s commands. Each year they attended the Feast of Passover. This was the annual time at God’s command to remember God’s loving, gracious and powerful work to free the Jews from Egypt’s slavery and idol worship.
    How fundamental it is to purposefully remember God’s freeing grace over our lives. I think most of us have been in a time in our lives when we didn’t worship regularly. Maybe we thought it was good enough to go to church or to take communion when we “felt” like it.
    But nowhere in Scripture does God say, “Worship me however and whenever you feel like it.” But that is essentially what happened in the Jews’ history. The nation Israel, home to the Ten Tribes who left Judah, completely forgot God. Ultimately, God destroyed this unbelieving people. Judah, too, beginning with Solomon’s sins to worship idols, had many kings who forgot God.
    Sadly, the “church” – God’s chosen people – forgot God. You could say the church was empty of true faith and worship. They locked out God.
    But God remained faithful to his eternal promise. He raised up King Hezekiah on Judah’s throne. Hezekiah was faithful to God. He knew why the nation was in great trouble. Hear his words from 2 Chronicles 29:4 “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your fathers. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. 6 Our fathers were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him…8 Therefore, the anger of the Lord has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes.” Hezekiah re-established the Passover Feast and other festivals God had commanded to remember the Lord’s salvation. Peace reigned during Hezekiah’s reign. God blessed his obedient nation.
    But sadly, future kings again forgot God. He ultimately judged Judah into exile.
    Dads and moms, you have a responsibility. As leaders of your household, you are to remember God. Tell your children of his commands and of his grace. Tell them why they need a Savior and teach them how Jesus saves. Remember Jesus’ command to remember: Luke 22:19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
    How is it possible to not remember such great love?
 
Prayer: Fill my mind, Lord, to remember each day the  life that cost you all; yet, you so freely offer to me. I pray I remember to tell others of your great love. In Jesus’ name, amen.