Remembrance 1

I find the Scriptures relating to when Jesus was giving His last words to His disciples so powerful and encouraging. The account in the Gospel of John shows what is important to Jesus, and what He wants His disciples to really understand and remember when He lays down His life for them and for all people. 

Of course they all, except Judas, will see Him again as the risen Christ, but this is a concentrated time of sharing His Kingdom vision and truth, and preparing them for the future.

John 14:26 "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 things that I said to you." 

When will the Holy Spirit do this?

Of course He can do this at any time, in any place, and in any situation.

But what if our minds and thoughts are so full of other things that there is no time and place for remembrance.

What if we fall short of the mark God has set for us, because we have not taken the time to remember His words of life?

What if our thoughts, then actions, hurt those around us, because the Holy Spirit has not been given the opportunity to bring to our memory the words of Jesus about loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

It would be foolish to think five minutes is a complete amount of time for the Holy Spirit, but what if there is no time available in a day for Him to act as our beloved Counselor to prevent pain from occurring in our own or others' lives.

He wants to bring the words of Jesus back to our minds, but He needs us to actually be listening to His voice.

Some modern trends of the expression of Christianity seem so far away from Jesus' actual teachings to be almost unrecognizable as discipleship. It seems to be more of a form of humanism and consumerism with a gloss of religious outward content.

Mankind seems well and truly at the center, and Jesus is allowed to be a figure of historical importance somewhere on the outskirts of the gathering. I sometimes wonder if Jesus did actually turn up at a Christian event whether anyone would notice Him.

I don't mean this to sound like a harsh judgment, but it is an observation of what I see these days.

I believe this must grieve God, because His Holy Spirit is willing to bring to remembrance the words of Jesus to whoever is willing to listen.

Are we willing?

Are we listening?

Do we give God any time in our days, or do we rush to the next Christian gathering using words about giving God the glory, without actually listening to what He would say to us personally.

Listening to a great and inspiring preacher is not the same as allowing the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit to bring life changing remembrance of Jesus' words, counsel and help.

Do we want to go deeper in our relationship with God and truly be a disciple of Jesus?

Spending five minutes actively listening to God every day is a good beginning. We will never know how much treasure He has for us until we decide to begin.