John 14:26

How’s your memory? You will doubtless know the joke about the person who goes upstairs to get something only to totally forget why they went. They then return downstairs with something else simply to justify the journey. For me, that’s no longer a joke but a way of life! Forgetting is part of the human condition, and it undoubtedly gets worse with age, so it isn’t surprising that the Bible has much to say about it.

When Moses gave instructions to the people of Israel before they entered the promised land, he anticipated that they might well forget the Lord’s commandments. So he urged them to “tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:8).

Sadly, the Old Testament is full of instances when God’s people totally forgot about him. Jesus wanted to prepare his followers for the years to come by giving them tools to remind them of the things he had taught them. During Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, he specifically instructed them to continue to meet together and remember his death. At the time, the disciples didn’t seem to have much idea of what was going on but, in the decades to come, this became central to their rhythm of worship.

In this verse, Jesus says that his Father will send the Spirit to them specifically in order to remind them of his teaching. However committed we may be to the Lord, we all get distracted by the busyness and demands of life. Thank God that he not only recognises our poor memory but specifically makes arrangements to ensure that we don’t forget what we’ve been taught.

QUESTION
What truths has the Spirit been reminding you about recently?

PRAYER
Loving God, thank you for understanding me so well. Forgive me for those times when I forget about you. Thank you that you sent your Holy Spirit to keep reminding me of Jesus’ teaching. Amen

Released on 4 Aug 2023