Dear Faith Family, 

Remember therefore from where you have fallen, (Revelation 2:5). 

You guys ever forget?  You know, an appointment?  Your keys?  Your umbrella?  Where you parked your car?  How about an anniversary?  What’s that about?  Like do we just get distracted?  Does something else become more important (tyranny of the urgent)? 

A couple of weeks ago it was off to the woods with a friend to once again masochistically inflict the frustration of an unsuccessful turkey hunt on our sleep deprived selves.  In other words, we didn’t get anything! 

The next day I received this text: “Hope you don’t need your boots this morning.  Found them in the back of my truck.”  By the way, it rained that night.  Like a lot!  Did you know that hunting boots hold water?  Who knew?!  Great. 

The whole point was to highlight our propensity to forget.  Remember?  Forget we do.  Some of us more than others.  Apparently, the Church at Ephesus forgot (“To let go from one’s further notice, care, attendance, occupancy, i.e., to leave or let alone.” – Zodhiates).  What exactly, did the Church at Ephesus forget? 

They forgot what it was like when they first loved Jesus.  They had forgotten the sheer delight of being with Him.  Of being His.  Of loving obedience.  Had something else taken the place of Jesus?  Were they distracted by the things of this world?  Were they just too busy with their hectic schedules?  Had their time-saving iPhones consumed their time? 

Whatever the case, Jesus demanded change.  That change began with remembering.  Does your Facebook feed ever inform you that you have a “memory” from 7 years ago?  Interesting that the memory comes in the form of a picture.  It can be fun to remember.  Oh yeah (insert bright light bulb icon here), I remember that trip.  That event.  Those people.  That car. 

God’s Word is a living photo album of memories.  Slow down.  Pull up a chair.  Have a seat.  Perouse the pictures painted on the pages of God’s Word.  Remember.  Recapture those memories.  Absorb the love of your Christ.  Remind yourself of the times that His love was so real you could feel it.  Remembering is the first step in moving away from whatever has taken His place and moving toward loving obedience.  How’s your first love? 

Remembering, 
Pastor Karl