Refreshing

Daily
in Gods Word
Emphasis on

Remember

Remember Lots Wife

January 1
Bible Reading: Luke 17:22-32
Key Verse: Verse 32 - Remember Lot's wife.
Key Words: Remember Lots wife
The mention of Lots wife takes us back to Genesis 19
where we find Sodom a picture of the world in the last days
full of sin and love for materialism.
Lots wife had such a love for Sodom that she looked
back, even after being told not to. I often tell people that Lots
wife had left Sodom, but Sodom never left Lots wife.
You see, when a person loves earthly things so much
that he cant get along without them, he opens himself to
much suffering, both physical and mental. Some people, for
example, have taken foolish risks to keep their riches intact.
They have died rushing into burning houses or were killed
because they stubbornly resisted armed robbers. Apparently
they felt that without their material possessions life would not
be worthwhile.
Others, when forced to part with their wealth, have
been thrown into agonizing despair, even to the point of
suicide. In 1975, six armed gunmen broke into the deposit
boxes in a London bank and stole valuables worth more than
$7 million. One lady, whose jewelry was appraised at
$500,000, wailed, Everything I had was in there. My whole
life was in that box. What a sad commentary on her values!
So I challenge you in these last days to leave the
Sodom of this materialistic, sinful world behind, and
remember dont look back!

What to do:
Its not only important to leave Sodom, but Sodom
must leave you.

Remember the Word

January 2
Bible Reading: John 15:14-27
Key Verse: Verse 20- Remember the word that I said
unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If
they have persecuted me, they will also persecute
you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours
also.
Key Words: Remember the word
G. Campbell Morgan had grown up in a Christian
home, never questioning that the Bible was the Word of God.
But in college, his faith was severely challenged and he began
to entertain doubts. The whole intellectual world was under
the mastery of the physical scientists, he later said, and of a
materialistic and rationalistic philosophy. Darwin, Huxley,
Tyndall, Spencer, Bain. There came a moment when I was
sure of nothing.
In those days, opponents of the Bible appeared every
Sunday in great lecture and concert halls across England,
attacking Christianity and the Bible, and these brilliant
atheists and agnostics troubled the young student. He read
every book he could find, both for and against the Bible, both
for and against Christianity, until he was so confused, so
riddled with doubt that he felt he couldnt go on.
In desperation, he closed his books, put them in his
cupboard and turned the lock. Going down to a bookshop, he
bought a new Bible, returned to his room, sat down at his
desk, and opened it. He said, I am no longer sure that this is
what my father claims it to be the Word of God. But of this I
am sure. If it be the Word of God, and if I come to it with an
unprejudiced and open mind, it will bring assurance to my
soul of itself. As he looked into the book before him,
studying its form and structure and unity and message, he
was amazed. He later said, That Bible found me. I began to
read and study it then, in 1883, and I have been a student ever
since.

What to do:
Remember the Word.
********************

Remember the Lord in All

Things
January 3
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:1-17
Key Verse: Verse 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that
ye remember me in all things, and keep the
ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
Key Words: remember me in all things
Now, before someone challenges me on the title of this
devotion, I know that it is the Apostle Paul saying remember
me. But if we read verse 1, Paul said, Follow me as I follow
Christ. The essence of it is that Paul is saying, If you
remember me, youll remember Christ. What a statement! I
wonder how many of us can say that!!
But the context of the verse is that if we follow and
remember Christ, all things will be done decently and in order
without confusion.
Remember one of the stories in the magazine, Today
in World, July 1993.
Neil Marten, a member of the British Parliament, was
once giving a group of his constituents a guided tour of the
Houses of Parliament. During the course of the visit, the
group happened to meet Lord Hailsham, then lord chancellor,
wearing all the regalia of his office. Hailsham recognized
Marten among the group and cried, Neil! Not daring to
question or disobey the command, the entire band of visitors
promptly fell to their knees.

Now, the moral of the story is this: If you dont know

who the Lord is, youll end up bowing to all the lords of the
world.
What to do:
Remember the Lord!
********************

Remember the Lords Death

January 4

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 11:18-26

Key Verse: Verses 24 & 25 And when he had given

thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my
body, which is broken for you: this do in
remembrance of me. (vs 24) After the same manner
also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying,
This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye,
as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (vs 25)
Key Words: remembrance of me

Communion is symbolic of the death of Jesus. The

bread is symbolic of the body that was broken for us, and the
cup represents the blood of Jesus Christ.
We are commanded to remember the Lords death
until He returns. J. Allen Peterson writes: I read about a
small boy who was consistently late coming home from
school. His parents warned him one day that he must be
home on time that afternoon; but nevertheless, he arrived
later than ever. His mother met him at the door and said
nothing. At dinner that night, the boy looked at his plate.
There was a slice of bread and a glass of water. He looked at
his fathers full plate and then at his father, but his father
remained silent. The boy was crushed. The father waited for
the full impact to sink in, then quietly took the boys plate and
placed it in front of himself. He took his own plate of meat
and potatoes, put it in front of the boy, and smiled at his son.

When that boy grew to be a man, he said, All my life Ive

known what God is like by what my father did that night.
Is that not what God did for us? He gave us His Son,
Who did no wrong, to die for us who were sinners. Praise be
to God for His great gift.
What to do:
Remember the Lords death.
It will change your
actions and
attitude.
********************

Remember the Creator

January 5

Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 12

Key Verse: Verse 1 Remember now thy Creator in
the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not,
nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have
no pleasure in them;
Key Words: Remember now thy Creator
It doesnt take long in reading Ecclesiastes 12 to realize
that Solomon is talking about old age, those years Abraham
called the well-stricken years.
Solomon referenced a number of things about those
years we call senior saint years:
The eyes grow dim (verses 2, 3c),
The arms grow weak (verse 3a),
The teeth begin to fall out (verse 3b),
The hearing begins to go (verse 4),
There is a fear to wander too far from home (verse 5a),
The hair turns gray, then loose (the almond tree)
(verse 5b), and
The kidneys leak (verse 6).
I like the question once asked by Satchel Paige, that
venerable alumnus of baseball: How old would you be if you

didnt know how old you were? An honest answer to that

question depends on an honest admission of ones attitude. It
has nothing to do with ones age. As someone young at heart
has written: I have become a little older since I saw you last,
and a few changes have come into my life since then. Frankly,
I have become quite a frivolous old gal. I am seeing five
gentlemen every day. As soon as I wake up, Will Power helps
me get out of bed. Then I go see John. Then Charlie Horse
comes along, and when he is here he takes a lot of my time
and attention. When he leaves Arthur Ritis shows up and
stays the rest of the day. He doesnt like to stay in one place
very long, so he takes me from joint to joint. After such a busy
day Im really tired and glad to go to bed with Ben Gay. What
a life! P. S. The preacher came to call the other day. He said
at my age I should be thinking about the hereafter. I told him,
Oh, I do all the time. No matter where I am in the parlor,
upstairs, in the kitchen, or down in the basement I ask
myself what am I here after?
Do what you can for God while you are young and
strong and full of energy. Dont waste your life on things that
do not matter.

What to do:
Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth.
********************

Remember Thy Brother

January 6

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:21-26

Key Verse: Verse 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift
to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother
hath ought against thee;
Key Words: rememberest that thy brother hath

ought against thee

I, on occasion, have heard well-meaning preachers say,

If my brother doesnt ask for forgiveness, Im not under
obligation to forgive him. How sad!! As believers, we are
under obligation to forgive. The burden is always on us as
believers. If we know our brother has aught against us, then
we take the initiative to make things right. If not, we find
ourselves in the bondage of anger and bitterness.
Recently we put up a hummingbird feeder with four
feeding stations. Almost immediately it became popular with
the hummingbirds that live in our area. Two, three, or even
four birds would feed at one time. We refilled the feeder at
least once a day. Suddenly the usage decreased to almost
nothing. The feeder needed filling only about once a week.
The reason for the decreased usage soon became
apparent. A male bird had taken over the feeder as his
property. He is now the only hummingbird who uses our
feeder. He feeds and then sits in a nearby tree, rising to attack
any bird that approaches his feeder. Guard duty occupies his
every waking hour. He is an effective guard. The only time
another bird gets to use the feeder is when the self-appointed
owner is momentarily gone to chase away an intruder.
We soon realized that the hummingbird was teaching
us a valuable lesson. By choosing to assume ownership of the
feeder, he is forfeiting his freedom. He is no longer free to
come and go as he wished. He is tied to the work of guarding
his feeder. He is possessed by his possession. His freedom of
action is as circumscribed as if he were in a cage. He is caged
by a situation he has created.

What to do:
Remember your brother, then go and make it right.
********************

Remembering the Wrong Things

January 7

 Bible Reading: Numbers 11:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 5 We remember the fish, which
we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the
melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the
garlick:
Key Words We remember the fish
Ive always marveled at this particular portion of
Scripture. Israel remembers the fish, cucumbers, the melons,
leeks, onions, and even the garlic. Now the reason I marvel is
that while they remembered the fish, they failed to remember
God. It was God Who brought the plague, it was God Who
brought the freedom from bondage, and it was God Who saw
them across the Red Sea, and it was God Who eliminated the
enemy; but they failed to remember God. As a result, the
main thing (God) failed to remain the main thing.
When I lived in Atlanta, several years ago, I noticed in
the Yellow Pages, in the listing of restaurants, an entry for a
place called Church of God Grill. The peculiar name aroused
my curiosity and I dialed the number. A man answered with a
cheery, Hello! Church of God Grill! I asked how his
restaurant had been given such an unusual name, and he told
me: Well, we had a little mission down here, and we started
selling chicken dinners after church on Sunday to help pay the
bills. Well, people liked the chicken, and we did such a good
business, that eventually we cut back on the church services.
After a while we just closed down the church altogether and
kept on serving the chicken dinners. We kept the name that
we started with, and thats Church of God Grill. They
remembered the wrong thing!!

What to do:
Keep the main thing the main thing and Jesus is
the Main thing!

Remember the Poor

January 8

Bible Reading: Galatians 2:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 10 Only they would that we

should remember the poor; the same which I also
was
forward to do.
Key Words: remember the poor

In Galatians, chapter 2, there is a disagreement

between Paul and Peter. Peter wanted only to help the poor
who were Jews; Paul wanted to help both Jews and Gentiles
who were poor. They, like many church and business
meetings, had a great discussion which ended in them being
in agreement about helping the poor, but nothing was ever
done about it. Sounds like a lot of meetings we attend, doesnt
it?
Some years ago I had two ladies of our church come by
and see me after visitation. They were both in tears. That
night they had visited a dear lady who had no money, no food,
and was about to be evicted from her apartment. They
wanted to collect money from the congregation for this dear
lady. I suggested that was not the answer, but that getting her
a job was the answer. I simply said, We can give her a fish
and feed her for a day; or we can teach her to fish and feed her
for the rest of her days. Needless to say, they were unhappy
with my answer, and thought I was being unkind.
This brings us back to the words of the Apostle Paul:
remember the poor. The word remember means to take
under consideration. Why are they poor? Is it because they
refuse to work, or is it because of unbearable hardships that
have come their way?

As a pastor, I promise to always remember the poor;

and by Gods grace, I will strive to do what is best for them
and for Gods glory.

What to do:
Remember the poor.

Remember How Short Our

Time Is

January 9
Bible
Reading:
Psalm
89:38-52

Key Verse: Verse 47 Remember how short my time

is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
Key Words: Remember how short my time is
William Penn said, Time is what we want the most
and use the worst. I am convinced that when we truly
understand that we have a limited time on earth that we will
live it for Gods glory.
Somebody once thought it would be a wonderful thing
if every day of our lives each of us had $1,440 in the bank that
we had to spend before the end of the day none of it could
be carried over to the following day. Each of us has 1,440
minutes every day. Could they be spent in a better way?
When Mickey Mantle was sixty-one, he was
approached by an autograph-seeking middle-aged man and
his little boy. The man had tears in his eyes when he said,
Son, it took me thirty years to get here to shake this mans
hand. This is the greatest baseball player who ever lived.
The little boy looked at Mantle, then turned back to his dad
and said, Daddy, thats an old man. The heroes of yesterday
have aged, and their mortality reminds us that age and change
occur more rapidly than we think or desire...which leads me to
the words of the Lord in Psalm 89:47, Remember how short
my time is. Use it or lose it.

What to do:
Remember how short your time is.

Remember Thy Love

January 10

Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 1:1-8

Key Verse: Verse 4 Draw me, we will run after

thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we
will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy
love more than wine: the upright love thee.
Key Words: we will remember thy love

If you dont agree with me, Ill not break fellowship

with you, but I believe that the Song of Solomon is about the
love of Christ for us. Solomon, inspired by the Holy Spirit,
says simply and plainly, I will remember thy love.
Margaret Rose Powers wrote the following for
Guidepost in July of 1992.
One night I had a dream. I was walking along the
beach with the Lord, and across the skies flashed scenes from
my life. In each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the
sand. One was mine, and one was the Lords. When the last
scene of my life appeared before me, I looked back at the
footprints in the sand, and to my surprise, I noticed that many
times along the path of my life there was only one set of
footprints. And I noticed that it was at the lowest and saddest
times in my life. I asked the Lord about it, Lord, You said
that once I decided to follow You, You would walk with me all
the way. But I noticed that during the most troublesome
times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I do not
understand why You left my side when I needed You the
most. The Lord said, My precious child, I never left you

during your time of trial. Where you see only one set of
footprints, I was carrying you.
He loves you!!!

What to do:
Remember His love.

Remembered No More

January 11

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 21:18-32

Key Verse: Verse 32 - Thou shalt be for fuel to the

fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou
shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have
spoken it.
Key Words: thou shalt be no more remembered

Ezekiels prophecy dealt with the Ammonites. The sin

of the Ammonites was that they continued to conspire against
Israel rather than side with them. God promised Abraham in
Genesis 12:3, And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse
him that curseth thee:... So it was with the Ammonites.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says in
regard to the Ammonites: They are an extinct group. The
word extinct means exterminated, quenched, died out.
At one time the Ammonites were a strong people.
According to Nehemiah 4:7, they helped make up the core of
the Babylonian Empire.
The legacy of the Ammonites was remembered no
more. What will our legacy be?
What organization, above all other interest groups, can
generate the most calls to Congress in a single day? Focus on
the Family. When they contact their grassroots, Congress is
inundated with calls. Maybe the reason for such results
should be credited to James Dobson...Senior! No doubt,
James Dobson, Jr. has done a remarkable job, but would he
be in such a position, had his father not been a man of prayer?

Engraved on the tomb of James Dobson, Sr. are two special

words: He Prayed. Because he fervently prayed, this man of
God has left a legacy of prayer that will continue to impact the
American family for years to come. Are you leaving a similar
legacy?
What to do:
Remember, only whats done for Christ will last.

Remembered By God
January 12

Bible Reading: Genesis 8:1-12

Key Verse: Verse 1 And God remembered Noah, and

every living thing, and all the cattle that was with
him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the
earth, and the waters asswaged;
Key Words: And God remembered Noah

You find this statement and God remembered on

three occasions. All three of these have one thing in common
and that is obedience. God remembered Noah (Genesis 8:1),
God remembered Abraham (Genesis 19:29), and God
remembered Rachel (Genesis 30:22). In all three cases, its
because of their obedience to God.
Its not that God doesnt know all of His children, but
there is a special place in His heart for those who obey Him.
How we admire the obedience a dog shows to its
master! Archibald Rutledge wrote that one day he met a man
whose dog had just been killed in a forest fire. Heartbroken,
the man explained to Rutledge how it happened. Because he
worked out-of-doors, he often took his dog with him. That
morning, he left the animal in a clearing and gave him a
command to stay and watch his lunch bucket while he went
into the forest. His faithful friend understood, for thats
exactly what he did. Then a fire started in the woods, and
soon the blaze spread to the spot where the dog had been left.
But he didnt move. He stayed right where he was, in perfect
obedience to his masters word. With tearful eyes, the dogs

owner said, I always had to be careful what I told him to do,

because I knew he would do it.
God needs servants like that...always loyal and ready
to obey...and the results of doing so is we will be remembered
by God.
What to do:
Dont just live so God knows you, live so He will
remember you.

Remembering No Kindness
January 13

Bible Reading: II Chronicles 24:15-27

Key Verse: Verse 22 Thus Joash the king
remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his
father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he
died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.
Key Words: remembered not the kindness
Joash began to reign over Israel when he was seven.
Much of his success could be attributed to Jehoiada, the high
priest (verse 2 and verse 12), but after Jehoiada died, Joash
forgot the high priests kindness toward him and slew
Jehoiadas son.
It reminds me of the old saying, What have you done
for me lately? How quickly we forget the kind deeds of
others, and as a result, we begin to treat those who have
showed us kindness with unkindness. At this point, we
become dangerous to everyone, including ourselves.
London held its breath in June 1987. While working
on a building site, a construction foreman thought his workers
had hit a cast iron pipe while using a pile driver. After picking
up and then dropping the huge object, they realized the pipe
strangely resembled a bomb.
It was a 2,200 pound World War II bomb, one of the
largest the Germans dropped during the blitz which killed
more than 15,000 Londoners. After evacuating the area, a
ten-man bomb disposal unit worked eighteen hours before
finally deactivating the seven-foot device.

Hatred is like an unexploded bomb. Unless its

deactivated it can detonate and cause great damage.

What to do:
Show kindness to all. Remember, you cant control
what people say and do to you, but you can control
your reaction to it.

Remembering the Days

January 14

Bible Reading: Esther 9:20-28

that

Key Verse: Verse 28 - And that these days should be

remembered and kept throughout every generation,
every family, every province, and every city; and
these days of Purim should not fail from among the
Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their
seed.
Key Words: these days should be remembered

The days mentioned in our text are the days of Purim,

the days which the Jewish people celebrate their deliverance
from Haman. While the word days is used, the celebration
today takes place on the 14th day of Adar which is the sixth
month on the Hebrew calendar.
What is your day of deliverance? Mine is August 14,
1959. On a Friday night while in revival, God delivered my
soul from the enemy. Because of Gods saving grace, Ive also
been delivered from the wrath that is to come. I marvel at
Gods great deliverance. Reminds me of something I read
from William Moses Tidwell.
Brother Mitchel Mason had used tobacco for many
years. He also drank. He was wonderfully saved and
delivered from the drink habit, but the tobacco craving
continued. He became deeply convicted that the use of
tobacco was positively sinful. He had made efforts to quit, but
all in vain. Finally he went to the Lord and said, Lord, I am
through. Never again, by Thy help, will I touch it. The battle

was on. He lost strength and had to go to bed. The appetite

raged, and the devil tempted; but he said, Lord, if I die, I will
die clean. The struggle was fierce; but after about three days,
when much of that time it seemed he would die, suddenly the
Lord came and instantaneously set him free. He was
gloriously delivered.
That has been about ten years. He is one of the
greatest men in prayer I have ever known. Often in the
service, as if moved by a mighty impulse of the Holy Ghost, he
will rise and pour forth such a message of power, glory, and
fire that it blesses and electrifies the whole congregation. Yes,
God will give complete deliverance from the desire or give
grace to overcome.

What to do:
Remember the days of your deliverance.
********************

Remember to Pray for Others

January 15

Bible Reading: II Timothy 1:1-14

Key Verse: Verse 3 - I thank God, whom I serve from
my forefathers with pure conscience, that without
ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers
night and day;
Key Words: I have remembrance of thee in my

prayers

Several years ago, Mrs. Flooie Cassel, ninety-one,

wrote an article in Alliance Witness, describing the various
ministries she conducts for the Lord from her room in the
nursing home. One was that of prayer.
Missionaries give me prayer requests which I
remember before Gods throne three times a day. This
practice began a number of years ago at a womens missionary
meeting. We had a speaker who talked about tithing our time

as well as our money. That evening I knelt and asked the Lord
how much time I should spend in prayer. He definitely told
me three hours a day. I began spending one hour each
morning, afternoon and evening in prayer.
But then I got very busy with child evangelism
classes, giving demonstrations on the use of flannelgraph
material, speaking at womens meetings. I began to slack off
on my prayer time in the afternoon. Soon I was too ill to teach
or speak.
I had heard a sermon on how Daniel waited twentyone days to learn anything from the Lord. So I began waiting
for the Lord to reveal to me why I was no longer able to draw
upon His supernatural strength from my supernatural tasks,
as Dr. A. B. Simpson so ably expressed it.
After several nights of waiting on the Lord in prayer, I
understood. The Lord said, I will not let you teach again until
you get back to your three hours a day of prayer.
I asked forgiveness for my neglecting prayer and
promised, with the help of the Holy Spirit, never to forget this
important lesson. Now in my ninety-first year, I still have this
ministry of prayer three times a day.

What to do:
Remember to pray for others.
P. S. We give out prayer lists each Wednesday night. Get a
copy and remember to pray for others.
********************

Remember This
January 16

Bible Reading: II Timothy 2:1-14

Key Verse: Verse 14 - 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.
Key Words: put them in remembrance
As you read the Scripture reading for today, you read
about several things.
1. We are to be strong in the Lord (verse 1).
2. Get others involved (verse 2).
3. Endure hardness (verses 3-4).
4. Endure all things (verse 10).
5. If we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him
(verse 11).
6. If we suffer for Him, we will reign with Him (verse 12).
But the primary thing that Paul wants us to remember
is not to quarrel and argue about words. I have a saying that
goes, Dont go to war if you gain nothing by winning.
Xanthus, the philosopher, once told his servant that
the next day he was going to have some friends for dinner and
that he should get the best thing he could find in the market.
The philosopher and his guests sat down the next day at the
table. They had nothing but tongue four or five courses of
tongue tongue cooked in this way, and tongue cooked in
that way. The philosopher finally lost his patience and said to
his servant, Didnt I tell you to get the best thing in the
market? The servant said, I did get the best thing in the
market. Isnt the tongue the organ of sociability, the organ of
eloquence, the organ of kindness, the organ of worship?
Then Xanthus the philosopher said, Tomorrow I want
you to get the worst thing in the market. And on the morrow
the philosopher sat at the table, and there was nothing but
tongue four or five courses of tongue tongue in this shape
and tongue in that shape. The philosopher lost his patience
again and said, Didnt I tell you to get the worst thing in the
market? The servant replied, I did; for isnt the tongue the
organ of blasphemy, the organ of defamation, the organ of
lying?

What to do:
Remember this: A fool uttereth all his mind.

Remember the Sabbath

January 17

Bible Reading: Exodus 20:1-8

Key Verse: Verse 8 - Remember the sabbath day, to

keep it holy.
Key Words: Remember the sabbath

We, as Christians, dont assemble together on the

Sabbath (Saturday). We do that (or we should do that) on the
first day of the week. The Sabbath was the Jews day of
worship and rest.
J. Vernon McGee tells this story about a man who
wanted to argue about the Sabbath. The man said, Ill give
you $100 if you will show me where the Sabbath day has
changed. McGee answered, I dont think it has been
changed. Saturday is Saturday. It is the seventh day of the
week, and it is the Sabbath day. I realize our calendar has
been adjusted, and can be off a few days, but we wont even
consider that point. The seventh day is still Saturday, and it is
still the Sabbath day. He got a gleam in his eye and said,
Then why dont you keep the Sabbath day if it hasnt been
changed? McGee answered, The DAY hasnt been changed,
but I have been changed. Ive been given a new nature now, I
am joined to Christ; I am part of a new creation. We celebrate
the first day because that is the day He arose from the grave.
That is what it means that the ordinances have been nailed to
the cross, Colossians 2:14.

So while the Jews were commanded to remember the

Sabbath, we assemble together to celebrate Jesus, His life,
death, but also His resurrection.

What to do:
Be at church every Sunday to rejoice in what Jesus
has done for you through His life, death, and His
resurrection.
P. S. Dr. Lee Roberson used to say, It takes three to thrive
Sunday A.M., Sunday P.M. and Prayer Meeting.
P. S. S. I have a little saying that goes, Three to thrive, two to
survive, and one and youre done.
********************

Remember the Judgments

of God
January 18

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:49-56

Key Verse: Verse 52 - I remembered thy judgments of

old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.
Key Words: I remembered thy judgments of old

John Phillips writes: Laws today are often made

under pressure, they are often tentative, they often reflect
compromise or social, economic, or political bias. Lobbyists
and interest groups significantly influence legislation. We
have hundreds of thousands of laws seeking to accomplish
what God affected in Ten Commandments. The psalmist,
however, was not brought up in a land where legislation was
at the mercy of the lobbyists. He was brought up in a land
where the law was mandated from heaven handed down by
God on two tables of stone, fixed and firm. The law was

therefore perfect. The psalmist could comfort himself in the

fact that God, who legislated such personal righteousness,
public responsibility, and pure religion, was a God of wisdom,
love, and power. The law reflected Gods nature, just as our
laws reflect our national character. Gods laws reflect His
character. That was a comfort to the psalmist. Gods laws
reflect a holy and righteous God.
Yet, on the other hand, the judgments of God also
reflect His hatred for sin. General William Booth used to say
he wished every one of the soldiers in the Salvation Army
could be held over hell for half an hour. It was their driving
horror of sin and its consequences that drove the Salvationists
into the streets and slums of the worlds cities, to work
miracles of grace. If such horror would seize hold of us,
maybe similar horror would seize hold of them, our loved
ones and friends outside of Christ. That would put them in a
hurry to be saved.
We would all do well to remember the judgments of
God.

What to do:
Remember that everyone will stand before God to be
judged: believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and
unbelievers at The Great White Throne.
********************

Remember Your Priorities

January 19

Bible Reading: Revelation 2:1-7

Key Verse: Verse 5 - Remember therefore from
whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first
works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou
repent.

Key Words: Remember therefore from whence

thou art fallen

I attempt to teach our staff and congregation to
properly prioritize their lives. I list our life in three areas:
first, we need to do that which is necessary; secondly, we need
to do that which is needy; and last of all, we can spend time on
that which is nice but only after the necessary and needy are
accomplished.
Revelation 2:1-7 was written to the church at Ephesus.
They had forgotten to put first things first, which was doing
the work of God we are told in Matthew 6:33.
As a result of not putting God first, God told them He
was going to put out their candlestick. This can have a twofold meaning. It could mean they would lose their spiritual
effectiveness, or it could mean that they would grope in
darkness. I personally believe it means both.
But the point is to put God first in your life, and your
actions will always be right.
Clovis Chappell, a minister from a century back, used
to tell the story of two paddleboats. They left Memphis about
the same time, traveling down the Mississippi River to New
Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one vessel
made a few remarks about the snails pace of the other.
Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And
the race began. Competition became vicious as the two boats
roared through the Deep South.
One boat began falling behind...not enough fuel.
There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for
a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising young sailor
took some of the ships cargo and tossed it into the ovens.
When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the
coal, they fueled their boat with the material they had been
assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but
burned their cargo...because their priorities were wrong.

What to do:
Remember to keep God your Number One priority.

********************

Remember to Hold Fast

January 20

Bible Reading: Revelation 3:1-6

Key Verse: Verse 3 - Remember therefore how thou

hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If
therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as
a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will
come upon thee.
Key Words: Remember therefore...and hold fast

The church at Sardis had a reputation that they were

alive, but God said, [thou] art dead. They had failed to hold
fast, to be firmly established in their commitment to God.
They were dead because they had failed to keep a watch over
the church, and it had slid far away from God.
Some years ago, during the days of the backyard
clothesline poles, our girls, along with some neighborhood
friends, were jumping and swinging on the clothesline pole
when suddenly the pole broke off at the ground. Now its up
to me to fix this pole. If I dig a hole and put the pole back
down into the ground, the poles would be uneven so I decided
to get a bag of quick-dry cement and a concrete block. I put
the pole in the block, leveled it, and poured the cement into
the block. Its then that I hear a voice coming from behind
me, It wont work. It seems my neighbor had been watching
me and felt obligated to give me his insight. I thanked him
and continued working. Then I heard another voice that of
my neighbor beside me saying, It wont work. Again, I
thanked him and continued to work. It was then I felt
someone staring at me. I looked up to find another neighbor
couple on their morning walk, looking at me from the street. I
looked at them and said, I know, it wont work. To which
they replied, Thats right!
It may amaze you to know that that was twenty-nine
years ago, and that clothesline pole is still standing today
twenty-nine years later! It is still holding fast.

Today, there are those who say that putting God first
will never work; but it will. It has worked in my life now for
years, and will continue to work until God takes me home.
God is faithful.

What to do:
Remember to hold fast.

Remember What Is Written

January 21

Bible Reading: John 2:1-17

Key Verse: Verse 17 And his disciples remembered

that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten
me up.
Key Words: remembered that it was written

John 2:17 is quoted from Psalm 69:9 and is a prophecy

in that it prophesies about Jesus as He hangs on the cross.
His mind goes back to the beginning of His public ministry,
when for the first time of His first official visit to Jerusalem,
He cleanses the temple. In John 2:17 we find the disciples
remembering the words of the psalmist as they watch Jesus
run the money-changers from the temple.
The point is that we are not to just put Gods Word in
our heads, but we are to hide it in our hearts. Remember
what was written.
While studying in the Holy Lands, a seminary
professor of mine met a man who claimed to have memorized
the Old Testament in Hebrew! Needless to say, the
astonished professor asked for a demonstration. A few days
later they sat together in the mans home. Where shall we
begin? asked the man. Psalm 1, replied my professor, who
was an avid student of the Psalms. Beginning with Psalm 1:1,
the man began to recite from memory, while my professor

followed along in his Hebrew Bible. For two hours the man
continued word for word without a mistake as the professor
sat in stunned silence. When the demonstration was over, my
professor discovered something even more astonishing about
the man he was an atheist! Here was someone who knew
the Scriptures better than most Christians ever will, and yet
he didnt even believe in God.
Its not just the memorization of Scripture that is
important; its a desire to hide Gods Word in our hearts that
makes a difference.

What to do:
Remember what was written.
********************

Remember His Marvelous

Works

January 22

Bible Reading: Psalm 105:1-13

Key Verse: Verse 5 - Remember his marvellous

works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of
his mouth;
Key Words: Remember his marvellous works
The quote from our text came from the book of
Deuteronomy 8:2, 18, and 24:9. The challenge is that we are
never to forget what God has done for us.
I define our memory in two ways. Short-term memory
is what we have when it comes to remembering what others
have done for us. Long-term memory is remembering what
others have to do.
We are quick to forget all God has done for us. So the
psalmist reminded the people of Israel to remember Gods
marvelous works.

I believe the key to remembering the work of God is in

direct proportion to our love for God.
A couple was on a newlywed show. The host was
asking the new husbands questions about the new brides.
One of the questions went like this: Name one absolutely
dumb thing your new bride has done. The first three
husbands came up with some humorous but rather absurd
things that their new wife had done, but the fourth contestant
stunned everyone when he said, I dont know of anything
dumb shes done! The host replied, Im sure if you think
hard enough, youll come up with something. To which the
man replied, I dont think so. You see, I love her so much all
I can do is see the good she does.
When you genuinely love God, youll realize all God
does is for our good. Thus we say, I remember the marvelous
works of God.
What to do:
Remember His marvelous
works.
********************

Remember Them That Have the

Rule Over You

January 23

Bible Reading: Hebrew 13:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 7 - Remember them which have the
rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of
God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their
conversation.
Key Words: Remember them which have the rule

over you
The word rule carries the idea of a leading position on
authority. While we often apply this to government leaders,
the Scripture is clear that it is the spiritual leaders who are

giving out Gods Word that the Lord has in mind. Remember
them, follow them, consider their conversation (manner of
life). One reason people often fail is they refuse to heed the
spiritual leadership over them.
In U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, the magazine of
the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of
obeying the Laws of the Lighthouse. Two battleships assigned
to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in
heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead
battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The
visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on
the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported,
Light, bearing on the starboard bow.
Is it steady or moving astern? the captain called out.
The lookout replied, Steady, Captain, which meant
we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, Signal that
ship: We are on a collision course, advise you change your
course twenty degrees.
Back came the signal: Advisable for you to change
course twenty degrees.
The captain said, Send: Im a captain, change course
twenty degrees.
Im a seaman second-class, came the reply. You
had better change course twenty degrees.
By that time the captain was furious. He spat out:
Send: Im a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.
Back came the flashing light: Im a lighthouse.
We changed course.
As well they should!!!!

What to do:
Remember them which have the (spiritual) rule over
you.
********************

Remember the Deeds

January 24

Bible Reading: III John

Key Verse: Verse 10 - Wherefore, if I come, I will

remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against
us with malicious words: and not content therewith,
neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and
forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of
the church.
Key Words: I will remember his deeds

It almost sounds as if John...remember John, he is the

apostle who wrote more about love than any of the others...is
unloving and unforgiving when he says about Diotrephes, I
will remember his deeds. The truth is that love, while
forgiving others, does rebuke and correct as well.
Revelation 3:19, As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten.
I Peter 2:16, in regard to Balaam we are told, But was
rebuked for his iniquity.
So when John talks about remembering his deeds, I
have little doubt that the Apostle John called his hand and
rebuked him in love as well. If you read verse 11 you will see
that John doesnt believe Diotrephes to be a saved man or at
least very back-slidden. Either way, a rebuke given in anger
would accomplish nothing.
John Wesley and a preacher-friend of plain habits
were once invited to dinner where the hosts daughter, noted
for her beauty, had been profoundly impressed by Wesleys
preaching. During a pause in the meal, Wesleys friend took
the young womans hand and called attention to the sparkling
rings she wore. What do you think of this, sir, for a
Methodist hand?
The girl turned crimson.
Wesley likewise was
embarrassed, for his aversion to jewelry was only too well
known. But with a benevolent smile, he simply said, The
hand is very beautiful.

Wesleys remark both cooled the too-hot water poured

by his friend, and made the foot-washing gentle. The young
woman appeared at the evening service without her jewels,
and became a strong Christian.
We would do well when we remember the deeds of
others not to simply rebuke, but to humbly rebuke in love.

What to do:
Remember to rebuke in love.

Remember the Obedience

January 25

Bible Reading: II Corinthians 7

Key Verse: Verse 15 - And his inward affection is

more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth
the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling
ye received him.
Key Words: he remembereth the obedience of you

all

Paul had sent Titus to Corinth to check on the church.

Paul was concerned that the church would not receive Titus
because Paul had previously written them a stern letter of
rebuke. Paul rejoiced though when Titus reported back that
the church did receive him. So Paul says to the church in
verse 15, ...whilst he [Titus] remembereth the obedience of
you all....
There is something special about someone who has a
spirit of obedience.
At a certain childrens hospital, a boy gained a
reputation for wreaking havoc with the nurses and staff. One
day a visitor who knew about his terrorizing nature made him
a deal: If you are good for a week, she said, Ill give you a
dime when I come again. A week later she stood before his
bed. Ill tell you what, she said, I wont ask the nurses if
you behaved. You must tell me yourself. Do you deserve the
dime?

After a moments pause, a small voice from among the

sheets said, Gimme a penny.
Mark Twain encountered a ruthless businessman from
Boston during his travels who boasted that nobody ever got in
his way once he determined to do something. He said,
Before I die I mean to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Im gonna climb Mount Sinai. And when Im up there Im
gonna read the Ten Commandments aloud at the top of my
voice! Unimpressed, Twain responded, I got a better idea.
Stay in Boston and keep em.
What to do:
Remember the obedient, and I might add, love and
pray for the disobedient as well.
********************

Remember Thy Offerings

January 26

Bible Reading: Psalm 20

Key Verse: Verse 3 - Remember all thy offerings, and

accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
Key Words: Remember all thy offerings

King David is the leader of Israel, and is about to go to

war. So the people are remembering the Lord and King David
as the kind of leaders they want to lead them during this time
of crisis.
In verse 3 the people are remembering David to keep
God first in their offerings. The people wanted a king who put
God first.
We dont see much of that in public life today. We
have leaders who attend church and pay token allegiance to
God. We have yet to hear them stand up and say to the
people: We are faced with crisis after crisis in our nation. We
are going to give our report, then we are going to lead the
nation in prayer, calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ to send a

spiritual and national revival to this land. Politicians believe

that it would not be the politically expedient thing to do. But
they are wrong. Now each of us need to remember God in all
we do.
J. S. Bach said, All music should have no other end
and aim than the glory of God and the souls refreshment;
where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a
devilish hub-bub.
He headed his compositions: J.J. Jesus Juva which
means Jesus help me. He ended them S.D.G. Soli Dei
gratia which means To God alone the praise.
Isnt that the way we all should think and live?
What to do:
Remember your offerings.
********************

Remember That Judgment

is Coming

January 27

Bible Reading: Luke 16:19-31

Key Verse: Verse 25 - But Abraham said, Son,

remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy
good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but
now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Key Words: remember that thou

You are more than likely familiar with the story of the
rich man and Lazarus. Both are heading for judgment.
The rich man is headed for the Great White Throne
judgment. His life on earth has been blessed, but he had
rejected Jesus as Savior. Lazarus, though, was headed for
heaven.
Harry Ironside used to share the following story.
One of the first gospel illustrations that ever made a
real impression upon my young heart was a simple story
which I heard a preacher tell when I was less than nine years
old.

It was of pioneers who were making their way across

one of the central states to a distant place that had been
opened up for homesteading. They traveled in covered
wagons drawn by oxen, and progress was necessarily slow.
One day they were horrified to note a long line of smoke in the
west, stretching for miles across the prairie, and soon it was
evident that the dried grass was burning fiercely and coming
toward them rapidly. They had crossed a river the day before
but it would be impossible to go back to that before the flames
would be upon them. One man only seemed to have
understanding as to what could be done. He gave the
command to set fire to the grass behind them. Then when a
space was burned over, the whole company moved back upon
it.
As the flames roared on toward them from the west, a
little girl cried out in terror, Are you sure we shall not all be
burned up? The leader replied, My child, the flames cannot
reach us here, for we are standing where the fire has been!
What a picture of the believer, who is safe in Christ!
On Him Almighty vengeance fell,
Which would have sunk a world to hell.
He bore it for a chosen race,
And thus become our Hiding Place.
The fires of Gods judgment burned themselves out
on Him, and all who are in Christ are safe forever, for they are
now standing where the fire has been.
What to do:
Remember, judgments coming. Are you ready?
********************

Remember Your Gift

January 28

Bible Reading: II Timothy 1:1-17

Key Verse: Verse 6 - Wherefore I put thee in

remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which
is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Key Words: remembrance...the gift
Every one of us has at least one spiritual gift we can
use for Gods glory. The question is: Are we continually
stirring up the gift to make it fit and useful in Gods service?
Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do
something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world.
So they organized a school. They adopted an activity
curriculum of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To
make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals
took all the subjects. The duck was excellent in swimming; in
fact, better than his instructor. But he made only passing
grades in flying, and was very poor in running. Since he was
slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after
school to practice running. This caused his web feet to be
badly worn, so that he was only average in swimming. But
average was quite acceptable, so nobody worried about that
except the duck. The rabbit started at the top of his class in
running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles
because of so much make-up work in swimming. The squirrel
was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant
frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start
from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. He
developed Charlie horses from overexertion, and so only got
a C in climbing and a D in running. The eagle was a problem
child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist.
In climbing classes he beat all the others to the top of the tree,
but insisted on using his own way to get there.
The obvious moral of that story is a simple one each
creature has its own set of capabilities in which it will
naturally excel unless it is expected or forced to fill a mold
that doesnt fit.
When that happens, frustration,
discouragement, and even guilt bring overall mediocrity or
complete defeat. A duck is a duck and only a duck. It is
built to swim, not to run or fly and certainly not to climb. A
squirrel is a squirrel and only that. To move it out of its
forte, climbing, and then expect it to swim or fly will drive a

squirrel nuts. Eagles are beautiful creatures in the air but not
in a foot race. The rabbit will win every time unless, of course,
the eagle gets hungry. What is true of creatures in the forest is
true of Christians in the family; both the family of believers
and the family under your roof. God has not made us all the
same. He never intended to. It was He who planned and
designed the differences, unique capabilities, and variations in
the Body.
Remember, use your gift and remember, not everyone
has the same gift.

What to do:
Stir up the gift that is in you.

Remember Not the Sins of

My Youth

January 29

Bible Reading: Psalm 25:1-11

Key Verse: Verse 7 - Remember not the sins of my

youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy
mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O
LORD.

Key Words: Remember not the sins of my youth

We do some foolish things in our youth!!! Dont deny
it, its true. Every one of us should thank God daily for His
mercy (God not giving us what we deserve). If we got what we
deserved, wed all be in hell.
Ive pastored here for years (this October will be 37 to
be exact) so Ive watched a lot of our kids grow up. If I stood
in the pulpit and told all I know about you, you would never
forgive me, and you could never show your faces in public
again. I repeat, thank God for His mercy!
Theres a great example of mercy in the actions of
former President Calvin Coolidge. Years after the death of
President Calvin Coolidge, this story came to light. In the
early days of his presidency, Coolidge awoke one morning in
his hotel room to find a cat burglar going through his pockets.

Coolidge spoke up, asking the burglar not to take his watch
chain because it contained an engraved charm he wanted to
keep. Coolidge then engaged the thief in quiet conversation
and discovered he was a college student who had no money to
pay his hotel bill or buy a ticket back to campus. Coolidge
counted $32 out of his wallet which he had also persuaded
the dazed young man to give back! declared it to be a loan,
and advised the young man to leave the way he had come as to
avoid the Secret Service! (Yes, the loan was paid back.)
Mercy we need, and we should all give it.

What to do:
Ask God to remember not the sins of [your]
youth...and adult life as well, I might add.
********************

Remember Me and Visit Me

January 30

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 15:10-21

Key Verse: Verse 15 - O LORD, thou knowest:
remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my
persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering:
know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
Key Words: remember me, and visit me
J. Vernon McGee says in regard to Jeremiah, chapters
14 and 15: Up to this point Jeremiah has been prophesying
during the reign of Josiah. Now we find him delivering a
prophecy during the reign of Jehoiakim. King Josiah during
the last part of his reign did a very foolish thing. He fought
against Nechoh, a pharaoh of Egypt, and there at Megiddo
Josiah was killed. Jeremiah mourned for him; he had been
his friend. After the death of Josiah, the nation began to drop
back into idolatry.

So Jeremiah who had stood firm in his convictions for

God and the things of God requested that God remember him
and visit him. Jeremiah knew that there was peace and safety
in the presence of God.
Dr. Tony Compolo says that when he was a boy
growing up in a congested and bustling city, his mother
arranged for a teenage girl who lived nearby to walk home
with him at the end of the day. For this, she was paid a nickel
a day. But Tony rebelled in the second grade and told his
mother, Ill walk myself to school, and, if you give me a nickel
a week, I will be extra careful. You can keep the other twenty
cents and well all be better off.
After a period of pleading and begging, little Tony
finally got his way. For the next two years he walked himself
back and forth to school. It was an eight-block walk with
many streets to cross, but he was careful and didnt talk to
strangers or get distracted along the way.
Years later at a family party, he bragged about his
independence and reminded his family of how he had taken
care of himself as a boy. His mother laughed and added the
rest of the story. Did you really think you were alone? she
said. Every morning when you left for school, I left with you.
I walked behind you all the way. When you got out of school
at 3:30 in the afternoon, I was there. I always kept myself
hidden, but I was there and I followed you all the way home. I
just wanted to be there for you in case you needed me.
Hebrews 13:5b, I will never leave thee, nor forsake
thee.

What to do:
Know that you are in a place of peace and safety
with God.
********************

Remember My Affliction
January 31

 Bible Reading: Lamentations 3:1-21

Key Verse: Verse 19 - Remembering mine affliction
and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
Key Words: Remembering mine affliction
Have you ever felt as Jeremiah did? Jeremiah said...
(verse 1) that he had experienced Gods wrath,
(verses 2, 6) that he was living in spiritually dark
times,
(verse 3) that God was against him,
(verse 4) that he was growing old,
(verse 5) that he was in gall and bitterness, and
(verse 7) that he was trapped.
The list goes on and on, but Jeremiah did not end with
gloom and doom. Jeremiah finally changed his thinking in
verse 21, This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. In
the remaining verses we see Jeremiahs hope.
Your attitude toward affliction will determine what
you accomplish for God. Affliction never leaves you the same;
it makes you bitter or better. It leaves you better when you
have spiritual goals in mind and understand that affliction is a
part of reaching that goal. Remember, great goals require
great affliction. Small goals require little affliction. But you
have to have goals and know where you are going.
Thomas Henry Huxley was a devoted disciple of
Darwin, famous biologist, teacher, and author, defender of the
theory of evolution, bold, convincing, self-avowed humanist,
and traveling lecturer.
Having finished another series of public assaults
against several truths Christians held sacred, Huxley was in a
hurry the following morning to catch his train to the next city.
He took one of Dublins famous horse-drawn taxis and settled
back with his eyes closed to rest himself for a few minutes. He
assumed the driver had been told the destination by the hotel
doorman, so all he had said as he got in was, Hurry, Im
almost late. Drive fast! The horses lurched forward and
galloped across Dublin at a vigorous pace. Before long Huxley
glanced out the window and frowned as he realized they were
going west, away from the sun, not toward it.

Leaning forward, the scholar shouted, Do you know

where you are going? Without looking back, the driver yelled
a classic line, not meant to be humorous. No, your honor!
But I am driving very fast!

What to do:
Keep your focus on God.

I deeply appreciate
the help of
Mary Parsons
Glenda Myrick
And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these

people to help, this
devotional would not
have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse

is a ministry of

5568 Chalkville Mountain Road

Birmingham, AL. 35235
(205) 854-2741
www.mountainviewbaptist.org