Devotionals

Forgetting and Remembering

by Dale Buchanan 
07/09/26
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#20 in “Blessing for Senior Saints” series

 I have often been known to say, “My forgetter is improving with age.  I get better and better at forgetting.”  Well, there are some things we should forget. Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13 (KJV), “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”  How many of you have been bored to death by an elderly person who often recounts, in endless detail, some event or events in his past? There are some events we should forget, or, at least, refrain from telling or retelling the story. Paul had many things from his past pre-Christian days that he needed to forget. His counsel was to forget the sins, remember lessons learned, and reach forward to the things God has for you in the future. 

  Then, there are some things we need to remember.  Peter wrote that, after his death, there were some things he wanted them to remember. (2 Peter chapter 1).  He wanted them to remember Jesus’ honor and glory and that Jesus was God’s beloved Son (2 Peter 1:17-18).  He also wanted them to remember that the Scriptures were not of human origin, but were written by holy men of God who were moved (borne along) by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:19-21). They needed to remember these things lest they be deceived into following the teachings of false teachers.  (2 Peter chapters 2 and 3).

 As we age, we become concerned about the possible problems of dementia and alzheimers.  So, we need to discipline our minds to focus on what is important.  Meditate on and memorize Scripture. (Yes, elderly people can memorize, but it takes mental discipline.)  Set your affections on “things above.”  Do what is important in God’s eyes.