Remember

You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. – Deuteronomy 11:18 (NRSV)

“I don’t need, every Sunday, to be reminded of my responsibilities,” said the young mother and teacher. “They are staring me in the face. I do need every Sunday to be reminded of the grace of God.”

People of all ages joke about “senior moments.” We forget stuff. Names. Words. We forget where we parked the car. Thank goodness that with our car keys we can get our car to flash its lights and identify itself. 

Moses was concerned about our theological senior moments. Forgetting God. Forgetting our story. Forgetting God’s story.

Looked at in a certain way, the Bible is full of memory-devices and cues. Things to help us remember. Moses lists a bunch.

Church is also full of reminders: Take time for prayer. Sign up for this. Volunteer for that. Remember to read your daily devotion. Don’t forget to pay your pledge and remember to vote. 

Most of the reminders are about things I should be doing, about my responsibilities. Fair enough.

But the one reminder I most need isn’t about me or my doing. It is about God and God’s doing.

When I got lost, God came looking. When I was in knots, God loosened the bonds. When I had forgotten myself, God remembered me.

Prayer
Your grace, O God, puts us back together again. Your grace remembers us. Thank you.

About the Author
Tony Robinson, a United Church of Christ minister, is a speaker, teacher, and writer. His most recent book is Useful Wisdom: Letters to Young (and not so young) Ministers. You can read and sign up for his blog at www.anthonybrobinson.com.