REMEMBER by Chas. F. Stevens

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 8, 1877

REMEMBER

By Chas. F. Stevens

There are many things we should remember. In our youth we should remember our Creator, and as we grow older we ought not to forget all his benefits towards us.

Probably nothing has a greater tendency to stimulate us to right returns in the service

of the Lord, than gratitude for past mercies when rightly appreciated. “In my distress,” says the Psalmist, “I called upon the Lord, and he heard me.” This great God is just as ready and willing to help us when we call upon him in sincerity; and then it becomes our solemn duty to remember his loving kindness and show our gratitude by our obedience.

There is danger when everything goes smoothly in this life, and we are prospered in the things of this world, that we forget the Source from whence all our blessings come (Deut. 8:11, 12), and so he permits distress and affliction to come upon us, that we may learn how frail we are, and remember God. The Lord has made his wonderful works to be remembered, Ps. 111:4, and has given us his holy Sabbath as a weekly memorial of the wonderful works of creation, and commands us to “remember” it. In Num. 15:39 the Lord teaches his people to remember all his commandments to do them; hence, we see that the object the Lord has in reminding us of our duty is that we may perform it. So also James exhorts us not to be forgetful hearers, but doers, of the word.

While our first duty is to God, we must not forget our duty to our fellow men. The apostle not only teaches us that we should remember the poor, Gal. 3:10, but also tells us to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said it is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35. And now, when we are so apt to forget our duty to God and our neighbors, and hesitate so long after we are reminded of our duty, let us pray God to help us remember how short our time is, and give us his Holy Spirit to bring all things to our remembrance, that God has required in his sacred word, and help us to render cheerful obedience, that we may not be cast away with all the nations that forget God.

CHAS. F. STEVENS.