The Need to Remember

II Timothy 2:8-10

Did you ever watch a newborn calf? If not, think about a puppy or kitten. Every thing is new to them. When they first stand up, they leave the impression that to simply move one foot would, and sometimes does cause them to fall down. Shortly they begin to understand which muscles make which leg move which way and they start to get control of standing. Before long they try to walk, somewhat shakily.

In a couple of hours they may try to run or jump around, often falling down. The second day they fall less and jump for shear joy from time to time. They are a lot of fun to watch for the first several days. As their memory of how to do things develops, they become more and more sure of their walking running and jumping, and curiosity takes over, getting them into all sorts of mishaps. In a short time they remember the consequences and don’t repeat all their mistakes.

One of my employers talked about a certain group of his employees. As he said, they were some of the sharpest people he’d ever seen about picking up physical activities. One family, however, worried him a lot. As he said, “Every day is a whole new world.” Every day one had to go through every step of the procedure again. Once they had been shown, they would do it perfectly for the rest of the day, but there seemed to be no long term memory. He suspected that they just didn’t trouble to remember, but was worried that they’d never be able to function in a job where there was no one to review all the steps every day.

While learning by memory is often frowned on, and with reason, learning requires memory. If we do not remember, we can never progress beyond the first hesitant moves. We can never learn to reason or plan, to read or to make decisions. Our whole life would be just like the calf’s first few hours, constantly falling down and getting into trouble. Our memories enable us to predict the outcome of our actions. They are the basis for intelligent and informed decisions and actions.

Paul’s ministry was based on his memory of what Christ had done for the world, including Paul, and Timothy must do the same if he is to succeed in the ministry. Without the assurance of Christ’s being raise from the dead, ministry is an exercise in futility, as I Corinthians 15 makes abundantly clear. Thankfully God has given assurance by raising Christ from the dead. “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31) Timothy, and every minister needs to recognize the importance.

“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” (II Timothy 2:8-10)

Only as we remember what Christ did and why will we be empowered to serve God in a manner pleasing to him. Hebrews 12:1-3 directs us as follows: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

Christ’s love and actions are the basis for our ministry, and his example, despite the rejection of those around him is the source of our encouragement. His resurrection is proof of God’s ability to resurrect us. We can believe his promises, but failure to believe will not change the results. He will not break his word whether we believe him or not.

“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (II Timothy 2:11-13)

Remembering these things is just as critical for the Christians as for the minister. He must cause them to remember as well.

“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.” (II Timothy 2:14)

It is critical that they accept what God has said, not spend their time arguing about semantic differences or differences in spelling. Many of the disagreements over which translation of the bible become nothing more than a source of confusion and conflict. Arguments about whether II Timothy 3:17 should say throughly or thoroughly, for example, have no value, merely causing strife and turning away people from Christ. According to the dictionary, they are simply variations in spelling of the same word. Many such arguments have the same effect, and they are to be forbidden.