BOOK SUMMARY: REDEEMING MEMORY - CHAPTER 8 - THE FRUIT OF REDEMPTIVE MEMORY

The action of redemptive memory transforms us to be more like Christ.  We must remember God's commands and promises. His truth sanctifies us. 2 Corinthians 7:1 reminds us that we have God's promises and in light of them we must cleanse ourselves from all the defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  See also Romans 12:2.  

The practicing of right remembrance (sanctification) results from a right relationship with God (justification).  

Colossians 3:1  Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 

Colossians 3:2  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth.  

Remembering our new identity should transform us.  Take a moment to imagine what your life would be like without any memory of Christ's goodness, mercy, lovingkindness, forgiveness, etc.  

Isaiah 26:8  In the path of your judgments,  O Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. 

HUMILITY - Humility is a fruit of a redeemed memory. It comes from a right understanding of your relation to God. God is center-state not you.  1 Corinthians 1:29 reminds us that there's to be no boasting in the presence of God as we remember the lowly standing from which God called us.  See also 1 Cor. 4:7.  The gospel removes reasons for boasting. If we forget self we can focus on remembering God. 

COMFORT

(1).  In Suffering - In our state of humility we can find comfort in painful situations by remembering the past. Read Psalm 77 to see Asaph's doubts as they meet his remembrance of the wonders of God.  Comfort only comes through right remembrance of God's deed, not in forgetting your current situation. Our memory has limits, but God's grace does not. 

(2).  In Grief - God cares about our grief even if He doesn't remove all sadness. Grace puts a limit on grief.  Thomas Watson said that true religion does not banish grief, it bounds it. God's grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9).   In the story of Ruth, Naomi was bitter because she lost her husband and two sons. But she had God's gift of Ruth. She forgot this gracious act of God.  God eventually gave Ruth a son, a grandson to Naomi, and restored Naomi's joy. When you are grief-stricken remember this redemptive story that leads to Jesus. Remember the hymn, "He Giveth More Grace."

HOPE - Comfort rests in the present, while hope looks to the future. The two should be intertwined in your life (Psalm 119:49-50).  In Lamentations, Jeremiah's memory afflicted him (Lamentations 3:17-18, 3:20).  But Jeremiah didn't stay despondent (Lamentations 3:21-23).  He recalled the Lord's lovingkindness and compassion which gave him hope in the promises of God.  The same memory that caused him to lament also caused him to recall God's promises so that he'd have hope.   The Valley of Achor (trouble) can be transformed into the door of hope (Hosea 2:15).

FAITH - Sanctifying faith ties the past and future together. Faith looks to the past for courage and then looks to the future with conviction and assurance. David looked to his past deliverance from a lion and bear only to fully believe that God would deliver him from Goliath (1 Samuel 17:37).  Spurgeon said that we have a tendency to inscribe our afflictions on brass while records of God's deliverance are inscribed on water. Faith is built under the ordinary circumstances of life. Memory might easily recall extraordinary events from God, but we must not miss him in the mundane. 

ACTIONS - Redeemed memory results in actions, not just humility, comfort, hope and faith. 

(1).    Imitate God - This is why we were created and we cannot do this if we cannot remember what God is like. Ephesians 5:1-2 calls us to be imitators of Christ. He taught us how to pray (Mattew 6:9-13).  He left us an example so that we'd walk in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21).  

(2).    Confess to God - This is an act of redeemed memory as it calls to remembrance that which violates God's holiness.  1 John 1:8-9 calls us to confess our sin and not to deny it.  In Psalm 32:5 David acknowledged his sin. 

(3).     Praise to God - A forgiven soul is a thankful soul. Thankfulness flows from a redeemed memory. Paul practiced praise and thankfulness even while in a storm (Acts 27:35).  Contentment is only found in subtraction not addition. Our souls must be satisfied in Christ alone. A redeemed memory will overflow with praise (Psalm 145:7).  We praise what we delight in. If we delight in God we will praise Him. C.S. Lewis noted that praise in something we delight in completes the enjoyment. He also said, "A pleasure is full grown only when it is remembered."  Memory harmonizes praise and pleasure through the passage of time.

(4).     Love Others - A redeemed memory doesn't just show actions towards God but also to others. Rightly remembering God means you'll also rightly remember others. God's commands that we are to remember are often directed towards others (1 John 4:10-11).  Love also includes actions towards to downcast and rejected, prisoners and poor (Hebrews 13:3; Galatians 2:10).  We must also love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).  

(5).    Share With Others - We must share the gospel. 

(6).    Comfort Others - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 reminds us that the God of all comfort has comforted us so that we can comfort others with the comfort we have received from God.  Suffering, thus, produces compassion and equips us to be compassionate.