LHM Daily Devotions October 9, 2019 - What to Remember

"What to Remember"

Oct. 9, 2019

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the One who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the Word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us. if we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.

— 2 Timothy 2:1-13 (ESV)

My son is working on college admission applications. That's a hard time for a parent. I want to give him whatever wisdom I can, prevent him from making mistakes, steer him in the right direction ... and yet, of course, there are real limits to what I can say or do. He has to make his own choices, and figure out what God wants him to do with his life. And me? Well, I have to learn to keep my hands off.

In 2 Timothy we can see Paul feeling much the same way about Timothy, the young man he loves as his own son. There is one thing he wants to convey to him above anything else—and it's what I want for my son, too. "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel!" he says. If you forget everything else, remember Him.

Remember your Savior God, who came down from heaven, who became a human being, who lived, suffered, and died on a cross, all of it for your sake. Remember the One who rose from the dead, never to die again, all so that He could give you and everyone who believes in Him eternal, everlasting life and joy—so that you could become the human being God created you to be, in the full glory of your humanity. Remember the One who gives you the Holy Spirit to live inside you, to transform you from glory into glory, making you ever more and more like Jesus Himself, creating a family resemblance in you to the Son of God. Remember the One who sends you out into the world, promising that He will never leave you alone, but He will always be with you—until the day when He returns to take you and all God's people home for eternity.

Remember Him. Forget everything else if you must, but remember Him.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, keep my heart always fixed on You. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Think of a parent or grandparent who is no longer with you. What is the one thing you remember most about them?
• What do you want people to remember most about you?
• What is the most important thing in your life, and how are you communicating that to the people you love?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Think of a parent or grandparent who is no longer with you. What is the one thing you remember most about them?