The Truth in Print Vol. 22 Issue 4, May 2016
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Memory #2
You may desire to
read “Memory #1” Vol. 22 Issue 3 for April 2016 before this continuing article
concerning some simple applications pertaining to one’s memory.
Being Reminded of Your Own Past is Beneficial
Paul was truthful in
saying “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and
envy, hateful, and hating one another” (Titus 3:3). While telling Titus to
teach these things Paul reminded himself and others of their own past.
Paul did not Exclude Himself
1Ti 1:12
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because
He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
1Ti 1:13
even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a
violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in
unbelief;
1Ti 1:14
and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith
and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
These vile things
Paul did were done “ignorantly” i.e. without faith in Christ. He never forgot
that he was a former blasphemer, persecutor and a violent aggressor which is
translated “injurious” [G5197 hubristēs ] —
Thayer’s def.: “2) one who, uplifted with pride, either heaps insulting
language upon others or does them some shameful act of wrong.” Shameful acts of wrong committed upon another
or others are never forgotten— always remembered.
Paul went to
the extreme in shameful treatment of Christians:
Act 26:9
"Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to
the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
Act 26:10
“This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up
in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were
put to death, I cast my vote against them.”
Act 26:11
“And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them
to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them
even to foreign cities.” — The words
“exceedingly enraged” are translated as “furiously enraged.” He even said this:
Gal 1:13 “For you have
heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God
beyond measure and tried to destroy it.” — Here “beyond measure” means “to cast
beyond” or “exceedingly” again showing the shameful acts of wrong committed
upon Christians before his conversion recorded in Acts 9 and recounted in Acts
26.
The deeper you look
at the things Paul did to Christians the more evil his past becomes. He referred to himself as “chief of sinners” ( I Tim. 1:15). Thus
he became an example of the longsuffering of God for others to learn by who are
going to believe on Christ —–- to show that the same mercy extended
to Paul through obedience to Christ is for all.
You use this to show others who are not yet Christians, who believe that
they have done so much wrong that they are not worthy of salvation in Christ,
that the promise of forgiveness of sins when one repents and obeys in baptism
is for them (cf. Acts 2:21 with 2:36-41).
Paul described the
danger for Christians in Crete of being influenced by those who were always
liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons — as the general conduct of their
society. What do you think of when you
compare our present society, and all of its manifest immoralities, with your
own past conduct in it? The more I look
at my past sins the darker they look.
There can still be a sin that is committed that connects with those
“former” sins in our lives — if while remembering we brag about them to others
— taking pleasure in one’s own mind in past immoralities.
Have I forgotten just one of God’s benefits? (Ps. 103:2)
Psa 103:1 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my
soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget
not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth
all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth
thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth
thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psa 103:6 The LORD executeth
righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
Read the above and
pick your own circumstance or need here — check verses 3, 4, 5, and 6
carefully. Very often, daily in fact, we pray for others in great need while
not knowing what God might be willing to do for them. We must always understand the need and
importance of remembering God’s deliverances in our lives. If you need health then do not forget your
forgiveness; If you’ve been “crowned” with God’s lovingkindness and tender mercies do not ever forget past
deliverance.
Not Believing Though all the while Remembering
Psa 78:18 And they tested God in their heart By
asking for the food of their fancy.
Psa 78:19 Yes, they spoke against God: They
said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Psa 78:20 Behold, He struck the rock, So that
the waters gushed out, And the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can
He provide meat for His people?"
Note carefully the
quotation marks in vss. 19-20. God’s people are speaking and they don’t finish
until the end of verse 20. Here is an example of not trusting in God while at
the same time remembering examples of His provisions. God became furious with
this kind of speech. We can’t be satisfied and He, God, won’t provide what we
want! And all the while here speaking of things God did do.
Psa 78:21 Therefore the LORD heard this and was
furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also came up against
Israel,
Psa 78:22 Because they did not believe in God,
And did not trust in His salvation.
At the end of the 40
years in the wilderness Moses said, “You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or similar drink, that you may know that I am
the LORD your God” (De. 29:6). You can be satisfied and even go through the
wilderness — sometimes you make more than one trip through a “wilderness”
you’ve been through before – you can do it without being overly anxious about
things when you continue to serve God, trust in His deliverances, and do not
serve Mammon (cf. Matt. 6:24-34).
Once again, if you need
deliverance of any kind don’t forget when He “crowned” you before. If He has
renewed your vigor and strength be thankful. And whatever the physical
circumstance might be never forget that He forgave you of all your iniquities.
The Mistake of Reverting Back
Too often brethren get
to feeling better physically or become better off financially and they
disappear once again. Years ago we had a
member who was restored, and then got the whole enchilada that she thought
she’d only get a bite of when their husband died — it included more than she’d even hoped
or knew she’d get – and then she got mad at some church members and left the
church – and then she died one year later and didn’t get to enjoy all the
material things she wanted and got. What
did she forget?
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