"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me...." Isaiah 46:9
This verse is citing the "Shema" (Deuteronomy 6:4), one of the most fundamental precepts of Judaism (and Christianity). It is astounding how often God's dealings with us often involves Him taking us back to the basics again and again. Like chronic Alzheimer's patients, we forget. We may learn other, higher things; but the moment that we lose the basics, those higher things lose their foundation, and thus all meaning and power, and thus they are easily forgotten as well. This is the problem of the Pharisee: Jesus had to constantly take them (and the Jews) back to the basics (Matthew 7:12; 22:37-40).
"We are forgetful creatures," says C.S. Lewis, "We need the storytellers." God is the great Storyteller, and He will bring you back to what you have forgotten again and again until it sticks. He calls His children to do the same; it is a part of being "salt and light". He calls us to say, "I will open my mouth in a parable...showing to the generations to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done." (Psalm 78:2-4)
Strive to remember the old things. Pray that God will take everything He gives you and sear it upon the table of your heart for all time.
"On tables of stone,
On tables of paper,
On the tables of my heart,
Burn Your tale into me..."
-Jon Vowell
This verse is citing the "Shema" (Deuteronomy 6:4), one of the most fundamental precepts of Judaism (and Christianity). It is astounding how often God's dealings with us often involves Him taking us back to the basics again and again. Like chronic Alzheimer's patients, we forget. We may learn other, higher things; but the moment that we lose the basics, those higher things lose their foundation, and thus all meaning and power, and thus they are easily forgotten as well. This is the problem of the Pharisee: Jesus had to constantly take them (and the Jews) back to the basics (Matthew 7:12; 22:37-40).
"We are forgetful creatures," says C.S. Lewis, "We need the storytellers." God is the great Storyteller, and He will bring you back to what you have forgotten again and again until it sticks. He calls His children to do the same; it is a part of being "salt and light". He calls us to say, "I will open my mouth in a parable...showing to the generations to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done." (Psalm 78:2-4)
Strive to remember the old things. Pray that God will take everything He gives you and sear it upon the table of your heart for all time.
"On tables of stone,
On tables of paper,
On the tables of my heart,
Burn Your tale into me..."
-Jon Vowell
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