Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:16:08 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (Aug. 7); BP: Eph. 2:11-22; RBTTY: Rom. 9:1-15; Ps. 72-73
August 7 “On Remembering Who We Were”
“Wherefore, remember, that you being in times past Gentiles in the flesh,
who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in
the flesh made by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenant of
promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
Ephesians 2:11-12
Forgetting this will lead to pride and ingratitude.
Aging is a natural process that comes to us all, whether we like it or
not. Graying or thinning hair. . . “character marks” (wrinkles). . .sags
here and bags there, etc., all combine to remind us that we’re not as young
as we used to be. And, one of the most frustrating “maladies of maturity”
is forgetfulness.
You know what that is, don’t you?
Experts say you should make a list; you do and forget where you put it.
You make an appointment to be somewhere; you remember it two days later.
You lay a letter on the counter to mail at the post office; you get to town,
scratch your head and ask, “Now, why did I come to town?”
Oh, the “joys” of getting older!
Today’s Manna reminds us there are certain parts of our past that we
don’t need to forget. Granted, as the Apostle Paul says, when it comes to
past sins we should “forget them” even as God the Father does when He
forgives them (Phil. 3:13). However, this doesn’t mean we should ever
forget where He’s brought us from and what great grace He has shown to us in
so doing—for this soon leads to ingratitude, complacency and a casual
attitude toward His redeeming grace.
Paul’s readers lived in Ephesus, one of the most immoral cities in Asia
Minor. Travelers from all over the known world passed through this seaport
city in what is now known as modern-day Turkey—and with them their lust for
cheap thrills, sinful indulgences, godlessness, etc.
But, God in His mercy reached down to these pagan Gentiles, “plucking
their feet from the miry clay and setting them upon a solid rock as He
placed within their mouths a song of Salvation praise” (Ps. 40:1-3).
Hallelujah!! Yet, even then, they (like us) should never forget who they
were before Christ: “Those scorned by the Jews. . .total strangers to the
God of Abraham and His covenant promises through the years. . . living in
abject hopelessness and despair, without Christ in the world.”
Oh, dear Pilgrim, can you remember back to that time you didn’t know
Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Can you remember those days when
the days seemed so dark and meaningless? Can you remember that moment when
His love touched you in a way you’d never been touched before? Can you
remember that beautiful assurance that flooded your soul the moment you
realized you were forgiven, cleansed, pardoned and adopted? If so, why not
stop and give thanks right now? And, why not seek an opportunity today to
tell someone else what Jesus has done for you?
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