Forgetful Me

While reading a book (The Search for Significance) the other day, I found myself underlining something that really struck me as important. For the curious, it was this sentence:

“…Christ’s foremost commandment is to love Him and others (Matthew 22:36-40)...joy, peace, and kindness are much more important to God than adhering to strict rules (for which Jesus rebuked the Pharisees).”

Here’s the thing: I already knew that. It had struck me as important before; I had read about it, journaled on it, sought to put it into practice. And not just once; this revelation had served as revelation to me a few different times over the years. And yet here I was again, underlining it and thinking, “I need to remember that.”

“Forgetful me”, I wrote in the margin at the bottom of the page.

How easily I forget things—not forever, but at least in the moment.

This Tuesday’s message on Ephesians 4:17-32 dealt with how our lives and actions are changed by the truth. Our behavior always follows our beliefs; if you don’t like your behavior, examine what you are believing in those moments and remind yourself of the truth.

I, for one, need reminding. Daily. That is the idea behind this list: important truths from Scripture that can be read daily and kept fresh in the mind. This list could be longer (or shorter), so I’d love to hear (in the comments) if you have any truths from Scripture particularly worth remembering.

Remember that:

You are fully loved.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! – 1 John 3:1

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13

You are fully forgiven.

But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. – Colossians 1:22

God made you for a purpose.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10

He did not make a mistake when He made you.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalm 139:13-14

You cannot earn salvation, no matter what you do.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9

...all our righteous acts are like filthy rags... – Isaiah 64:6

Thankfully we don’t have to, because it is a free gift.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:23-24

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23

God is not trying to rip you off…

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? – Romans 8:32

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4

…but Satan is, through his lies.

He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. – John 8:44

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – John 10:10

God is in control, and works everything out for good…

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

…even though we might find it hard to see the good in the short run.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. – Ecclesiastes 3:11

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. – Genesis 50:20

Everything earthly is temporary…

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. – Revelation 21:1

…and any sacrifice here on earth is momentary.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. – Romans 8:18

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. – Matthew 19:29

Whatever you can’t do, God can do through you.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. – Philippians 2:13

If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31b

Your weaknesses are God’s greatest chance to shine.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

So be made new…

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. – Ephesians 4:22-24

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

…be selfless…

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4

…trust God…

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:31-33

… pray with thanksgiving…

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

…and share this good news.

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. – Mark 16:15

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” – Isaiah 52:7

Everything in life boils down to loving God and loving people.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40

So love God…

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. – Psalm 103:1-5

…love people…

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35

…be loved.

- Kevin McConaghy