The past couple weeks I’ve really been dwelling on the idea of remembering Jesus—remembering the Gospel. As I read today, this passage in the beginning of Psalm 77 stuck out to me.

You hold my eyelids open;
   I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I consider the days of old,
   the years long ago.
I said, "Let me remember my song in the night;
   let me meditate in my heart."
   Then my spirit made a diligent search:
”Will the Lord spurn forever,
   and never again be favorable?
Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
   Are his promises at an end for all time?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    Has he in anger shut up his compassion?"
                         Selah

Then I said, "I will appeal to this,
   to the years of the right hand of the Most High."

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
   yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

Asaph describes his turmoil and mental anguish over his circumstances. Then shifts immediately. He says that he will remember God’s works and ‘wonders’ of old.

Every Christian can attest to God’s power to provide strength and comfort. Yet, we all quickly forget that he has done so for us in the past, when our present seems to fall apart. Like Asaph, we should make a careful point to remember what God has done for us in the past, in his Gospel in general and our lives in specific, to give us confidence for the future.

Psalm 69:19:

You know my reproach,
   and my shame and my dishonor;
   my foes are all known to you.

David is speaking to God about his enemies. In essence, he’s saying that God knows what they do to him and the pain he undergoes at their hands. He is affirming back to God (and to us) that God’s eyes are on us and he knows what he’s doing.

As I read it tonight though I couldn’t help but read the words a little differently.

The Gospel is thorough, but the comforts of it when not dwelled upon very, very regularly can seem to get lost under the anxiety of life. But I read this passage in a personal manner. God knows not only my circumstances and challenges, but also knows me and all of my deepest, most difficult issues. And yet still, the Gospel is applied to me.

What worldly anxiety can stand up against that?

Romans 11:29

“…The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.”

Paul is writing about the nation of Israel. They are an illustration here for how God deals with people. And in this instance he is saying that although God has allowed his chosen people to be hardened in heart for the sake of the gentiles who would be saved, he has not forgotten his promises to that nation.

But there are dual meanings, as virtually every classic Christian commentator agrees.

Therefore, this verse becomes among the most encouraging, strengthening, truths of God’s love to ever fall on the pages of scripture. Though we may fail, we need not succumb to despair. Though we are weak we can take heart and confidence because God’s gifts and callings are irrevocable.

Although a lot about me has changed since becoming a Christian, to this day, the most notable change was inside. I can remember my thoughts before knowing Christ. They were self-centered in an absolute sense. Now, all Christians will struggle with self-centeredness. It’s not something that’s going to completely go away. But before coming to Christ, there was no struggle. All streams of thought led back to me.

It was after believing that I changed. The shift was subtle, but far reaching. As a Christian, the self-centeredness I will always have to fight, is now naturally swimming with a concern for other people, regardless of what benefit it might bring me.

After a discussion with an old friend the other night, I was thinking about the topic of assurance. Having confidence that we are numbered with the redeemed. It’s something we’re taught to find in the fruit of our life. If we are Christians, is it manifested somewhere? That’s where all these thoughts collide.

1 John 3:14:

“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love, abides in death.”

Of course, this passage doesn’t nutshell everything I’ve just said. But the idea is represented.

When we shift from death into new life, the most notable change will be love. We’re all going to continue to struggle in various ways and to various degrees depending on where and through what God is leading us. But love will surely be present and it will guide more of us than we think. And I think there’s assurance in that.

Song of Songs 7:10:

“I am my beloved’s
   and his desire is for me.”

Among the oldest interpretations of the book of Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) is that it is an allegory. Originally seen as Christ and Israel, then later understood as Christ and the true Israel (the Church). It’s one of the places we get so much imagery of the church being the ‘bride’ of Christ.

Understood in that way, this passage becomes one of the most beautiful, peaceful, comforting, exciting, encouraging, strengthening verses in all of God’s word.

As Christians we can remember that Christ’s work on our behalf wasn’t begrudging and it wasn’t a chore. And although he has carried our burden of sin, his desire remains for us and his work on our behalf is both obedient to God and joyful for us.

I just started 1 Peter yesterday in my Bible Reading Plan. Today I came across the familiar verse, 1 Peter 1:13:

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The word used here for “sober” is “napho”. It basically means stay calm, don’t panic. When I considered that, it offered some encouraging insight.

Peter began his writing talking about the various trials his readers would face and that they should take heart in them because it was testing the genuinness of their faith. Then he goes on to reaffirm that salvation is found solely in Christ.

Then he comes in with this “therefore,” be sober. Or in a sense, “don’t panic”, you can set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 8:11-12:

they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
   and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall all know me,
   from the least of them to the greatest.
For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
    and I will remember their sins no more."

A wave of optimistic anticipation swept over me as I read this the other day. Even though I’ve read it many times before, it is wonderful when our exterior weakens enough for old truths to take new effect.

It’s very encouraging to keep those promises close.