Remembering Someone?
Key text: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” – Phil 1:3
Have you ever suddenly remembered about someone, either that person is good or bad? I’m sure you have. Well, I have. And then, what do you do after that? Just move on with your life? Stop and call that person? Or maybe something else?
In the book of Philippians, Apostle Paul wrote that he thanked God for every remembrance of the saints in Philippi.
Remembrance – in Greek mneia – means recollection ; by implication recital: mention, remembrance. The word mneia only appears seven times in the New Testament, all in the letters that Apostle Paul wrote. Six out of seven times, it’s Apostle Paul who remembered something. So apparently, Apostle Paul had the habit to remember the churches that he had ministered to and also the person that he met during his ministry. But then what did he do after that?
Rom 1:9 – “… that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;”
Eph 1:16 – “cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;”
Phil 1:3 – “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,”
1 Th 1:2 – “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;”
2 Tim 1:3 – “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;”
Phm 1:4 – “I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,”
He usually began his letters by saying that he remembered the receiver of the letters (notice that all those remarks are in the first chapter of the book). And then he informed these people or churches that he prayed for them, and that he thanked God for all the good things that they had done. Don’t you think that these people and churches would feel blessed that someone was praying for them?
Now, let’s go back to my first question: Have you ever suddenly remembered about someone, either that person is good or bad? Perhaps, God wants you to pray for that person. Or maybe He even wants you to pray with that person. Perhaps, God wants to use you to be His channel of blessing for that person.
So, next time if you suddenly remember someone, what will you do?