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Story: I Forgot

Jared stared up and down the street with wide eyes. Where was he? What was he doing? More importantly, who was he?

He couldn’t remember the answer to any of those questions. He looked around him and saw a crowded street with people hustling around. I must need to hustle somewhere, he thought to himself. With that, he joined the crowd, hurrying somewhere, anywhere.

Jared felt his stomach growl. He was so hungry! He noticed some boys digging through trash cans looking for bread, so he joined them.

Several days passed this way. Until one day Jared bumped into Luke.

Jared recognized Luke, and with the recognition came a flood of other memories—memories that increased as Luke began speaking.

“Jared, whatever are you doing? You were sent out here to praise the King, serve Him, and share the King’s invitation with others, but you seem to be wandering around aimlessly. What’s going on?”

The truth came flooding back to Jared’s mind. The King—His banquet. He remembered now. The King had found him when he was a helpless beggar guilty of the death sentence for his crimes. The King had paid his fine and adopted him. Now Jared had been given a task to do during his short time left among the streets before the King returned to take him home forever. How could he have forgotten all of that? “I…I forgot,” Jared muttered.

“I can see that,” Luke’s reply was filled with gracious understanding. “I’ve forgotten before too. Amnesia seems to be one of our biggest enemies. Say, you look half starved—did you forget about the King’s food too?”

The King’s food! Oh, he had forgotten that too! The King had promised to send him daily food from the castle. But Jared had been eating from the trash cans instead.

Luke read his answer on Jared’s face. “I see you forgot. Well, let’s go get you some decent food right now. And next time, don’t forget to read the note the King gave you that reminds you of all these things…and let’s remind one another regularly, shall we?”

Jared nodded. He didn’t want to waste any more time in forgetfulness!

“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:” 2 Peter 3:1-2

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:11

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:11-13

Thought: Avoiding Spiritual Forgetfulness

When I have something I need to remember, I do whatever it takes—sticky notes, lists, cell phone notices, timers, etc.—to remind myself of it. Without reminders, I could end up forgetting something important by getting caught up in a trivial pursuit!

We need reminders because we forget. And if we need reminders for earthly things, how much more do we need reminders of heavenly things?

We know God loves us. We know He’s in charge. We know this earth is temporary. We know He finished the work for our salvation. But it’s way too easy to forget these truths in how we live.

Take a look at your spiritual memory prompts. Do you have habits in place to remind you of God’s truths when you forget? Are you in His Word regularly? Have you surrounded yourself with other believers who will remind you of the truth when you stray?

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