Remember Me, God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Nehemiah 13:14,22,

"Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services... Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love."

Following a return to Jerusalem, Nehemiah found abuses the people were engaging in (yet again!) and took steps to correct them. A priest had provided a Gentile ruler a room in the temple, offerings that were to have been given to the Levites had not been provided them, the Levites and musicians responsible for the temple worship had abandoned their duties and returned to their fields, the people were breaking the Sabbath, and some had gone back to inter-marrying Gentiles.

In all of these abuses, Nehemiah brought correction to the people and in this chapter he asked God four times to remember him with favor for what he had done, verses 14, 22, 29 and 31. I'm not certain that Nehemiah was nearly as concerned he get special or unique favors from the Lord for the good he had done for God's agenda, but simply that he wanted to be remembered by the Lord for what he had done.

Considering what Nehemiah had done for the Lord's agenda, it prompts me to think of what I might wish the Lord to remember me for. Not that the Lord would forget me - that won't happen - but what it is he remembers about me, what does he think about how I am using the life he gave me? What is it I would like the Lord to keep in mind about me in this life? How about in the next age - for all eternity - for what I have done in this age? Nehemiah brings to mind that the Lord does think of us and that we may want to consider what it is he remembers us for.

We learn in Ephesians 1 that the Lord has chosen us to be "holy and blameless in his sight", verse 4. However, that does not preclude the opportunity we have to have the Lord think of us, to remember us, for those things we might do to further his agenda in this age. What is it I may do in this life that impacts the Lord's remembrance of me?

What an opportunity here!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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