Making a Good Memory – December 5, 2021

I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3

Making a Good Memory

In the movie screen of your mind, picture this: You see a pair of sandaled feet walking inside of a house. The walking that you see is a restless pacing. The feet stand at one window. They cross the floor to another window and sigh. Then the feet cross the floor again. These feet belong to the apostle Paul. He’s in Rome and living in a rented house. But here’s the problem: He can’t leave. There’s a Roman guard in the room there with him. Paul is under house arrest, awaiting trial to face accusations from people who do not like what he’s preaching. And he’s not simply stuck there for a week or two. He’s there for years.

But the Lord sustains him. One of the ways the Lord sustains him is through the happy memories Paul has of his fellow believers. Paul cherishes these memories so much that he even tells the Christian congregation in Philippi, “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

Based on what Jesus Christ has done on your behalf at the cross, God has purged from his mind every memory of your sin. Instead, there are only happy memories of your fruits of faith; fruits of faith that are big or small, carefully planned or impulsive, long or short, complex or simple.

One of those fruits of faith can be this: Making a good memory for someone else.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, give some thought to doing that. Maybe you could pick up the phone and thank someone for the kindness that really made an impression on you. Maybe you could tell a fellow Christian with chronic pain how their patient example inspires you. Or perhaps you’re just the person to give someone a hearty, much-needed laugh.

Whatever you do, do it to God’s glory. And don’t underestimate the power of a good memory. Look what it did for Paul.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for washing me clean in Jesus’ blood and remembering only my fruits of faith. Help me to touch others with good memories of Christian love. Amen.