Articles
Remember!
Several times in the New Testament Christians are urged to recall the days when they were strong and faithful—because in the interim they have drifted.
1) “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?” (Gal. 5:7 NASB). These Galatian Christians had once made good progress, but in the meantime they had been influenced by the Judaizers who had taught them they should accept circumcision.
2) The writer of Hebrews urges his readers to “remember the former days” after their conversion when they had been willing to undergo loss for the sake of Christ and had done it joyfully (Heb. 10:32-34 NASB). Through the years, however, they had grown dull of hearing and had failed to grow as they should (5:11-6:3).
3) “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first…” (Rev. 2:5 NASB). Jesus rebukes the Ephesian church for having left their first love. They were no longer the committed Christians they once had been. Although they were still doing some good things, Jesus calls them to repent.
If this could happen to Christians in the 1st century, could it happen to us in the 21st? Since the day we first became Christians, have we matured—or have we stopped growing? Are we doing more for the Lord—or less? Have we maintained our spiritual fervor—or have we cooled?
Each of us needs to take spiritual inventory (2 Cor. 13:5). If we discover we come short, the good news is we can change!
Let’s remember, repent, and return!
