Memory and Hope
Scripture Reading — Psalm 135
I know that ... our Lord is greater than all gods. Psalm 135:5
Poet Wendell Berry has observed that when we are young, our lives are all time and little memory. As we grow older, we discover that our lives are almost entirely memory and very little time. That's why, in visits with older family members or acquaintances, we often talk about the past and the roads they have traveled. Conversations like that are not mere reminiscing about "good old days." They are crammed with evidence of God's grace and faithfulness. Our memories of the past give us courage for the road ahead. Israel practiced a similar faith dynamic. The psalmist in our reading for today offers memories of the Exodus. Why remember things that happened centuries earlier? Because such memories inspire hope for tomorrow. Alistair MacGrath has compared the Christian to a trapeze artist who has let go of one bar and is soaring through the air to catch the other bar swinging toward him. There's a moment when the trapeze artist is suspended in midair--caught in an act of faith. That's the nature of the Christian life. We journey by faith. Often the insecurity of the moment overwhelms us. That's why we cultivate a spiritual memory. God's grace is woven into our own personal stories. Consider your own life. What stories might you share with family and friends about God's goodness?
Lord, memories of your guidance inspire our confidence for the future. Help us remember the grace moments of life that assure us of your continued presence. In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — Bob Heerspink
Dr. Robert Heerspink was director of Back to God Ministries International from 2006 until 2011, when he passed away. He had previously pastored several Christian Reformed churches. Bob loved to write and was a frequent contributor to the Today devotional.
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