“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13:14 ESV)

Not only should we remember certain things, we also should forget certain things as well.

What to forget

• Forget the sins of others

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Heb. 10:12 ESV)

• Forget your old ways of sin

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.” (Isa. 43:18 ESV)

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12 ESV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

“Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 ESV)

Therefore

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1 ESV)

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” (Isa. 43:25 ESV)

Quotes

“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.” - Johnny Cash

“We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it.” - Rick Warren

“… I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day…” (1 Tim. 1:3) 

I once heard an elderly friend of mine say, “My forgettery works better than my memory.” It made me laugh, but truthfully, the older I get, the more I value being able to remember things, especially when I’ve forgotten where I placed something like my glasses or car keys. And I find myself making more notes these days to help me not to forget important things, especially when traveling, as I often do. I once forgot and left a suitcase while going through airport security, and I had to go back to find it. Good thing it was still there! And now I use AirTags just in case.

Different kinds of memory

Memory is generally categorized into three types: sensory memory, short-term memory (or working memory), and long-term memory. Sensory memory holds information for a very brief period, while short-term memory can hold a limited amount of information for a short duration. Long-term memory can store vast amounts of information for extended periods, sometimes even a lifetime. And the Bible has a lot to say about what God wants us to remember and why we should.

What to remember

• Remember the words of the Lord Jesus 

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35 ESV)

• Remember others and thank God for them

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,” (Phil 1:3)

• Remember prisoners and those who are ill-treated

“Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.” (Heb. 13:3)

• Remember your creator in the days of your youth 

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them…” (Eccles. 12:1 ESV)

• Remember your Christian leaders

“Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” (Heb. 13:7) 

• Remember the poor

“They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.” (Gal. 2:10)

• Remember Jesus with communion

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19 ESV)

“In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:25 ESV) 

Good news, God will help you remember!

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV) 

Therefore

“And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you…” (Deut. 8:2 ESV)

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” (Psalm. 77:11 ESV) 

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.” (Psalm 143:5 ESV)

Quotes

“Put your mind on the gospel. And remember - there's one God for all.” - Mahalia Jackson 

“Receiving, reading, researching, remembering, and reflecting on the Word of God are all useless if we fail to put what we learn into practice.” - Rick Warren

“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Tim. 6:18-19) 

The above passage describes four kinds of treasure to store up in order to have a good foundation for the future.

1.     Do good – “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9 ESV)

2.     Be rich in good works – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 ESV)

3.     Be generous – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Cor. 9:6 ESV)

4.     Be ready to share – “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Heb. 13:16 ESV)

The passage at tops ends with the reason we must continually do the above four things. “…so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

Therefore

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19-21 ESV)

Quote:

“The person who thinks the money he makes is meant mainly to increase his comforts on earth is a fool, Jesus says. Wise people know that all their money belongs to God and should be used to show that God, and not money, is their treasure, their comfort, their joy, and their security.” - John Piper

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Eph. 4:31 ESV

In your anger, do not sin

Everyone becomes angry now and then, and that’s okay, because all anger isn’t bad. For instance, Jesus became angry with the moneylenders at the temple. But anger should never be allowed to grow out of control. Otherwise, it may evolve into something much worse, cause you to sin, and even become destructive in your behavior. The Bible says, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” (Eph. 4:26 ESV).

The passage at the top warns of six things to put away from you: bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice.

When you define them, you can see clearly why you should always be on guard against them:

• Bitterness: Sharp, or acrid, in either a literal or figurative sense; implacableness; resentfulness; severity; keenness of reproach or sarcasm; deep distress, grief, or vexation of mind. A state of extreme impiety or enmity to God.

• Wrath: Strong vengeful, or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; ire.

• Anger: A strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong. 

• Clamor: Vehement expression of discontent or protest; to make a loud sustained noise or outcry.

• Slander: Oral communication of false and malicious statements that damage the reputation of another.

• Malice: A desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill will or spite.

Watch out! Bitterness can make you captive to sin

“For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."” (Acts 8:23 NIV)

Don’t allow a root of bitterness to spring up

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” (Heb. 12:14-15 ESV)

Don’t jump to anger

“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.” (Eccles. 7:9 ESV)

Be quick to listen and slow to anger

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20 ESV)

Therefore

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

Quotes

“Do not say, "I cannot help having a bad temper." Friend, you must help it. Pray to God to help you overcome it at once, for either you must kill it, or it will kill you. You cannot carry a bad temper into heaven.”  - Charles Spurgeon

“To be angry about trifles is mean and childish; to rage and be furious is brutish; and to maintain perpetual wrath is akin to the practice and temper of devils; but to prevent and suppress rising resentment is wise and glorious, is manly and divine.” - Isaac Watts

“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Col. 3:13 ESV)

Forgiving others always

Forgiveness is a serious subject, and the Bible has a lot to say about it. Christians must forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. We must even forgive others sacrificially, if it becomes necessary. We see an example of this when Stephen asked God to forgive those who were stoning him to death. (Acts 7:54-60).

Warnings about not forgiving others

·      God won’t forgive you - “… if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt. 6:14-15)

·      Sickness, weakness or death - Don’t take communion without first forgiving others. “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.” (1 Cor. 11:28-29 ESV)

·      Stirred up trouble –“Hatred stirs up trouble, but love forgives all wrongs.” (Prov. 10:12)

Keep on forgiving

“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” (Matt. 18:21 ESV)

Jesus taught to pray this way…

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Natt 6:12-15 ESV)

Therefore

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…” (Matt. 6:14 ESV)

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:2 ESV)

Quote

“I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note - torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one.” - Henry Ward Beecher

“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” (Titus 3:9)

Avoid foolish arguments and strife

In the early church, religious people found many things to disagree on and to argue about. Two examples mentioned above were hot issues of that day: genealogies and the law. The passage warned to avoid arguing about such foolish things, describing them as “unprofitable and worthless.” Not much has changed over the following centuries! Today, people still argue over many unprofitable and foolish controversies. Christians should never partake in vitriolic matters, yet they do! Social media is rife with it! The Bible contains numerous, serious warnings on the subject.

Be on guard!

“O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’.” (1 Tim. 6:20)

Refuse foolish and ignorant speculations

“But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.” (2 Tim. 2:23)

Turn away from those who cause dissensions

“Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.” (Rom. 16:17) 

Avoid worldly empty chatter

“But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,” (2 Tim. 2:16)

Therefore

“But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” (1 Tim. 6:11)

“Avoiding strife brings a man honor, but every fool is quarrelsome.” (Prov. 29:3) 

Quote

“Blessed are the peacemakers, and one sure way of peacemaking is to let the fire of contention alone. Neither fan it, nor stir it, nor add fuel to it, but let it go out by itself. Begin your ministry with one blind eye and one deaf ear.” - Charles Spurgeon

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2-3 NIV)

Grow in faith from start to finish

Some people get stuck in their faith. They reach a plateau and just remain there. That shouldn’t be so! The Christian life should be one of steady growth forward and upward and continue to mature and expand from start to finish as it becomes more perfected in Jesus. This is an ongoing process and not completed until the day we meet Jesus. 

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6 ESV)

How to grow up in your faith

·      Read and listen to the Word of God - “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17, NKJV).

·      Be a doer of the Word - “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22 ESV) 

·      Have faith: Believe that God  exists and rewards - “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Heb. 11:6 ESV)

·      Constantly train and practice - “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Heb. 5:12-14 ESV)

·      Be rooted and grounded in love - So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:17-19 ESV)

Therefore

“Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,” (Heb. 6:1 ESV)

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” (2 Thess. 1:3 ESV)

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18 ESV)

Quote

“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” - Billy Graham

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27 ESV)

Hearing the voice of God

Occasionally I hear someone say, “God spoke to me and said...” And then they proceed to tell what He said to them. This practice used to bother me because I’ve never heard God speak to me in an audible voice. I don’t doubt that God has spoken audibly to people on occasion. There are many examples of it in the Bible, such as when God called out to Adam in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:9), called audibly several times to Samuel (1 Sam. 3:8), and spoke to Moses from the burning bush (Exo. 3:1-4:17). However, I believe it is more usual today for God to speak to us through His written Word. That’s how He often “speaks” to me. As I read the Bible and meditate (think deeply) on what I have read, Scripture comes to my mind as I make daily decisions. Recently, a salesman at an auto parts store gave me too much money back at the sales counter. I caught the mistake and handed him back the overpaid amount. The clerk said, “Wow! Thank you! You are a very honest man!” I said, “Thanks, I am a Christian, and God would never allow me to cheat you.” I’m familiar with what God’s Word says about dealing honestly with people.

“But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” (Luke 11:28 ESV)

God’s people hear His words

“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” (John 8:47 ESV)

Hearing the Word of Christ

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17 ESV)

God’s Words are spirit and life

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63 ESV)

The Holy Spirit brings God’s Words to your remembrance

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV)

Therefore 

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 ESV)

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20 ESV)

Quote

“One of the greatest benefits of our salvation has to be that of hearing God speak to us personally. There can be no intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father without it. But, as easy as it is for us to speak to Him, the average Christian has a hard time hearing His voice. This is not the way the Lord intended it to be.” - Andrew Wommack

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37 ESV) 

The Worst Day of My Life, when everything looked impossible!

It was the winter of 1967, and I was living in Sitka, Alaska, where I worked at a grocery store. One day, I was scheduled to work the late shift, but when I arrived, the store manager called me into his office and accused me of doing something the previous day that I absolutely had not done. It was his word against mine, and I could not prove my innocence. He angrily fired me and ordered me to leave the store. 

I Did Not See It Coming

In complete shock, I headed home to my apartment. When I arrived, a group of my friends was there having a party. Usually, I wouldn’t have minded, but I wasn’t in a party mood. When I insisted they leave, they beat me up and threw me outside into the snow. I pulled myself together and walked to my landlord’s home nearby, telling him about the drunken people in my apartment. I asked him to help me get them out, but he just yelled profanities at me and said he was going to call the police. I quickly left the scene because I didn't want to be there when the police arrived. 

I Didn't Know What to Do or Who to Turn To

It was a bitterly cold Alaska night, and I was freezing. I walked to my parents' house and knocked on their door. My dad answered. I told him what had happened and that I didn’t know what to do or where to go. I asked if I could come in and sleep on their couch for the night. But he angrily told me to grow up, take responsibility for my own problems, and go away. He shut the door in my face and turned off the porch light.

I Thought Suicide Was My Only Answer

I walked along the dark street, feeling panic-stricken, confused, rejected, and very cold. I tried hard to figure out what to do next, but I couldn't think of any answers. I felt completely out of options. At that moment, I decided that suicide was my only answer. I had some money in my pocket, so I would get drunk and then end my life.

I went to a nightclub and began to drink one drink after another. At the back of the room was a small dance band. During one of their breaks, the band leader came to the bar near where I was sitting. As he waited for his drink, our eyes met. He smiled and asked, “How are you?“ I replied, “Do you really want to know, or are you just saying that?“ He responded,  “Of course I want to know how you are.”

“Well,” I said, “today has been the worst day of my life! I lost my job, got thrown out of my apartment, and was beaten up by my friends! My landlord wouldn’t help but instead called the cops on me! Even my own parents won’t let me sleep on their couch. I have nowhere to go, so as soon as I finish this drink, I’m going to end my life!”

Without hesitation, he said, “No, please don't do that! My family and I live nearby. We have a couch you can sleep on. Come stay with us!”

His instant kindness kept me from the worst possible outcome. This person, Jean Dawkins, and his wife changed the course of my life.

Shortly after I went to live with them, he lost the bass player in his band and immediately offered me the position as a replacement. It was a dream job for me. I had a place to stay, wonderful, kind people to live with, and I got to play music. I really loved it. I played with them for several months while they finished their contract in Sitka.

Then they decided to move to a town I had never heard of—Lynden, in the state of Washington—and they brought me with them! It was in Lynden that I heard about Jesus Christ, received Him as my personal Savior, and met and married Susan, the woman of my dreams. I also began attending classes at Vancouver Bible College and became an ordained minister. As part of my training, I learned how to do advertising, publications, and direct mail marketing. I became very successful at it and started helping others advertise their businesses. This eventually led me to specialize in advertising and marketing for the automotive recycling industry for nearly 40 years, where I have met so many dear friends. And today, after retiring, it is my privilege and honor to continue in this industry as chaplain. Looking back, I can plainly see God’s hand was in it every step of the way. 

God does the impossible

Many times, in life, we may face situations that look impossible. Like I did on what felt like the worst day of my life, it can be hard, even impossible, to see a way through it. But God is never taken by surprise and often turns what looks impossible to us into His perfect plan for us. Nothing is impossible for Him!

“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26 ESV)

“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jer. 32:17 ESV)

“Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Gen. 18:14 ESV)

“And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mark. 9:23 ESV)

Therefore

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” (Eph. 3:20 ESV)

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Eph. 4:13 ESV) 

Quote:

“Darkness comes. In the middle of it, the future looks blank. The temptation to quit is huge. Don't. You are in good company... You will argue with yourself that there is no way forward. But with God, nothing is impossible. He has more ropes and ladders and tunnels out of pits than you can conceive. Wait. Pray without ceasing. Hope.” - John Piper