2024 Week 38

Hello, Springers!

The things we know the best are the things we forget the most.

In a world that constantly offers us the latest, best, and newest remedies to life’s perennial problems, we take for granted the tried-and-true methods of personal soul care.

When I am most stressed, that’s when I am most likely to squeeze out time for Bible reading and prayer. In the moments when I most need to be quiet before Jesus, I am most tempted to stay caught up in the noise of our world.

The things we know the best are the things we forget the most.

It reminds me of the story of a theologian who wasn’t sure what was his greatest work. In the end, he found it wasn’t what he thought. I won’t spoil it for you. But if today you find that you’re like me, forgetting the things you know the best or squeezing out the time you need to take to be with Jesus, then take a few moments to watch this video. (And you can see a shorter version of the tale performed here by my son.)

When we forget, the most important thing we need is to remember.

We’ve been looking at worship in the gospel formation class on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. This week we focused on worship as remembering. Remembering is one of the most important reasons why we worship. In remembering who God is and what he has done for us in Christ we find our rest.

The prophet Isaiah tried to point God’s people to that reality in Isaiah 30:15.

For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
But you were unwilling…

We forget. We are unwilling. But Isaiah leaves us with this promise in vv. 18-19 of the same chapter.

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you…
He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry.
As soon as he hears it, he answers you.

Will you find rest today by taking time to remember the things you know the best, that Christ has died for you, Christ is risen for you, and Christ will come again for you.

in Christ,

Pastor Tag