“Remind Me, Oh Lord”
1 Peter 1:13-21
David P. Nolte
Henry had a horrible memory and so did his wife, Matilda. They chided one another for their forgetfulness, neither owning up to their own lack of recall. The wife said, “Henry, will you fix me an ice cream Sundae? And don’t forget the cherry on top!” Henry, irritated, said, “I won’t forget; my memory is as sharp as a tack.” He went into the kitchen and in a few minutes he brought Matilda a plate of eggs and toast. She said, “I knew it! You can’t remember anything! I told you not to forget to put jelly on the toast!”
Another couple went on a road trip. About 10 miles from where they had stopped for lunch, Opal said, “Oh, Joe! We have to go back to the restaurant – I forgot my purse!” Joe was ticked! “Opal, how can you be so stupid? As big as it is, you’d forget your nose if it wasn’t fastened to your face! You don’t have the common sense God gave a horsefly!” He harangued her for the entire 10 miles. Sort of like “Second verse, same as the first; a little bit louder, and a little bit worse!” When they arrived back at the restaurant, Joe said, “Now, while you’re in there getting your purse, pick up my hat, too!”
Memory. Mine isn’t what it used to be – my excuses are that “I have too much to think about and too little to think with!” and that “my forgetter works too good.” Another face saver when I meet someone I ought to know but just can’t place is, “I have to embarrass myself. I know you but I always forget a face and I never remember a name!”
We all forget things from time to time but there are some things we ought to always keep fresh and in mind. LET’S THINK ABOUT THAT.
“Therefore, get your minds ready for action, by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, because I am holy.’ And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence. You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, you were ransomed--not by perishable things like silver or gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, Christ. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. Through Him you now trust in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” 1 Peter 1:13-21 (NET).
Toni’s song and the Scripture text both suggest some areas of life where we need reminding.. With the song, let us say, “Remind me, Oh Lord!”
I. REMIND ME THAT THINGS ARE TEMPORAL:
A. Peter alluded to the temporality and perishability of this world when he said, “live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence. You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, you were ransomed--not by perishable things like silver or gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, Christ.”
1. The longest life we may live here in the flesh is but a temporary one. Here today, gone tomorrow. We are given but a brief time of sojourning here in the flesh.
2. The finest of silver and gold are perishable over time. All material things are subject to dissolution and destruction.
B. The song says,
“The things that I love and hold dear to my heart
Are just borrowed, they’re not mine at all
Jesus only let my use them to brighten up my life
So remind me, remind me, dear Lord.”
C. Things are temporal, so:
1. “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-17 (NASB).
2. Martin Luther said, “I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”
3. Marjorie Holmes wrote this prayer, “Lord, cool these fires of wanting. Help me to realize how futile is this passion for possessions. Because -- and this is what strips my values to the bone -- one of my best friends died today in the very midst of her possessions. She was in the beautiful home she and her husband worked so hard to achieve, the home that was finally furnished the way she wanted it with the best of everything. She was surrounded by the Oriental rugs she was so proud of, the formal French sofas, the painting, the china and glass, the handsome silver service...She had been snatched away while silently, almost cruelly, THEY remain. Lord, I grieve for my friend. My heard hurts that she had so little time to enjoy the things that she had earned and that meant so much to her. But let me learn something from this loss; that possessions are meant to enhance life, not to become the main focus of living. Help me remember that we come into the world with nothing and we leave with nothing. Don’t let me put too much stock in mere possessions.”
D. The best, the finest, the most costly, the most durable things of this world are doomed to destruction and decay in time.
E. Let me illustrate: “On November 25, 1895, a cornerstone of ice was laid in Leadville, Colorado, it was the beginning of the largest ice palace ever built in America. It was part of an effort to bolster the town’s sagging economy, for which the citizens staged a winter carnival. On New Year’s Day of 1896, the town turned out for the grand opening. The huge palace measured 450 x 320 feet. The towers that flanked the entrance were 90 feet high. Inside was a 16,000-square-foot skating rink. But by the end of March the palace was melting away, along with the hopes of Leadville. The thousands of visitors had spent very little.”
Remind me, Lord that the things of earth are temporal.
II. REMIND ME FROM WHERE YOU BROUGHT ME:
A. Peter said, “do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, because I am holy.’ .... You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, you were ransomed.”
B. My good friend, John Dammarell, wrote, “There are 3 positive things about your past that will help you to have a huge impact on your present and future.
1. Learn from your past: Reflect on all those failures, struggles and defeats and what God has been showing you through all of this.
2. Grow from your past: I heard it said you are either going forward or backwards in your Christian growth. You cannot remain neutral. Here is where you take what God has been revealing to you and make a choice to change.
3. Use your past to help others. You were never designed to keep to yourself all that knowledge, understanding and wisdom in your journey through your past but instead you are challenged to walk the road of significance to move outside of yourself to bring hope and dignity into others, choosing to be those feet, hands and mouthpiece of the Holy Spirit, making a roadway in the wilderness for others.”
4. The song says,
“Roll back the curtain of memory now and then
Show me where you’ve brought me from
And where I could have been
Remember I human and humans forget
So remind me, remind me, dear Lord.”
C. Think about what used to be and from whence He brought you and press on:
1. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:1-7 (NASB).
2. “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.” Titus 3:3 (NASB).
3. It is a good thing for us to remember from where He brought us:
a. He brought us from the pit in which we were mired.
b. He brought us from bondage to the lusts and illicit desires that ruled and ruined us.
c. He brought us from the power of sin which had separated us from Him.
d. He brought us from the domination and deception of this world and Satan which led to foolish living.
e. He brought us from hate and anger and malice.
D. We are not perfect, but we can be like the old fellow who testified, “I ain’t what I oughta be; and I ain’t what I’m gonna be; but Praise the Lord, I ain’t what I usta be, neither!”
E. Let me illustrate the importance of considering the past from which we have come. A man saved the young son of a rich man from the thugs who tried to kidnap him for ransom. To express his gratitude the boy’s father gave him the position of Butler in his household. Other servants with seniority were jealous of this intruder so they sought to ensnare him. They noticed that once a week he would sneak off to a room which was always locked, and to which he alone had the key. He would enter, lock the door, and remain half an hour, then come out, locking the door behind him. The servants decided that he must be stealing things and hiding them in that room. They went to the rich man with their accusation. Being a just man he summoned the accused and made him aware of the suspicion of the servants. He replied: “Come with me and I will show you what I have concealed.” They all went and he showed them a tattered shirt, patched pants and shoes with holes in the soles. Then he said, “These are my old clothes. I kept them, and revisit them and ask God to remind me of how blessed I am so that I do not yield to the temptation to pride.” May we never forget from where Jesus has brought us and may that humble us.
Remind me from where You brought me, Lord.
III. REMIND ME THAT I CANNOT DESERVE SALVATION:
A. Peter said, “set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed, .... you were ransomed--not by perishable things like silver or gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, Christ. .... Through Him you now trust in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
B. The song concludes,
“Nothing good have I done to deserve God’s own Son
I’m not worthy of the scars in His hand
Yet He chose the road to Calvary to die in my stead
Why He loved me I can’t understand.”
C. The Bible is clear on this:
1. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.
2. The best among us is not worthy of salvation.
3. If we are saved it is all of His work by which we are redeemed if we have faith.
4. Therefore we need to set our “hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
D. The Bible says,
1. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB)
2. “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,” Titus 3:5-6 (NASB).
3. His grace toward the undeserving perplexes some people. They mistakenly think that grace makes it okay to sin as long as you just confess it afterward. But Jesus apparently sees it differently.
4. Robert Capon wrote, “He wasn’t afraid of giving the prodigal son a kiss instead of a lecture, a party instead of probation; and he proved that by bringing in the elder brother at the end of the story and having him raise pretty much the same objections you do. He’s angry about the party. He complains that his father is lowering standards and ignoring virtue--that music, dancing, and a fatted calf are, in effect , just so many permissions to break the law. And to that, Jesus has the father say only one thing: ‘Cut that out! We’re not playing good boys and bad boys any more. Your brother was dead and he’s alive again. The name of the game from now on is resurrection, not bookkeeping..’”
We don’t deserve forgiveness and salvation – but we need reminding that He offers it anyway!
E. A mother approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son who had been sentenced to death.
The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death.
“But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.”
“But your son does not deserve mercy,” Napoleon replied.
“Sir,” the woman cried, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.”
So moved by this mother’s appeal, he said, “Well, then,” the emperor said, “I will have mercy.” And in mercy he spared the woman’s son.
Sheer justice condemns us to eternal death. Divine mercy – the mercy Jesus gives (though it is undeserved and unmerited on our part) – gives us eternal life.
PRAY / INVITE
Jesus does not focus on our faults and tell us to go away. He sees our need and calls us to come. It is not what we were, or are, but what we can become that matters; from a bad past to a wonderful future, from death to life, He calls us softly and tenderly to come.
If you haven’t confessed faith in Jesus, if you haven’t turned your back on sin, if you haven’t been buried in baptism, make the decision to do so this morning as we sing. And as you sing, also listen for Jesus as He calls you to come.
