Every holiday has two purposes – to remember and to celebrate. It’s the remembering that we tend to forget. 

Christmas is a day to remember the birth of Christ and celebrate his birth with presents and family dinners.

The Fourth of July, a day to remember our nation’s birth and our freedom as Americans, is usually celebrated with a cookout and fireworks.

Valentine’s Day is a day to remember that special relationship in our lives, and we celebrate with a special gift, a private dinner, and romance. 

You get the picture.

As we celebrate Memorial Day, we remember those who have fallen in battle to preserve those freedoms we celebrate on the Fourth of July. Many will also remember other loved ones who have passed into eternity by placing flowers and other decorations at gravesites.

All our holidays help unite us as a nation as we celebrate who we are as a country.

As Christians, regardless of whether you are an American or not, there are thousands of things God wants us to remember. Of course, we will not look at all of them today, but in Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he takes a progressive look at memories. He moves from what he remembers to what he wants Timothy to remember, to what Timothy should remind others of. 

“…I call to remembrance…” (2 Timothy 1:5).

Paul remembers Timothy’s “unfeigned faith” and how Timothy’s Grandmother Lois and mother Eunice also had that faith. 

It is important to remember the faith of those in generations before us. 

In my family, church, religion, Christianity, whatever you want to call it, was not significant. My sister Brenda, who was eleven years old and my senior, was the only Christian. I went to church with her a handful of times. She married when I was eight, so any Christian influence inside the home was only when I was very young.

My Grandmother was a Christian but lived out of state, and I only saw her for a week every year while on vacation. 

Brenda died young. I was only fifteen. I have written about that time in my life several times. Still, I will only say that remembering Brenda’s faith led to questions in my heart that eventually led to my salvation.

I was in my late thirties when Grandma taught me a spiritual lesson I will never forget. I had not seen Grandma in nearly twenty years. We planned a trip to Washington, DC, and decided to swing by West Virginia and see my Grandma. 

Grandma was in her nineties and nearly legally blind. She lived with her sister. Everyone had gone to bed that first night, and it was only her and me.

“I can’t see to read the Bible anymore. Can you read it to me?”

“Yes, Grandma, I’ll read to you as much as you want.”

“John, please start reading the book of John, I love the book of John.”

She sat in her chair, and I, on the floor next to her, read the entire book of John.

“Psalm 119. Could you read Psalm 119?”

After reading the Bible’s longest chapter, – “Galatians, I love the book of Galatians.”

I read Galatians and several other books of the Bible that night. Dawn was about an hour away when she said, “Oh, I’d love for you to read more, but the other will be getting up soon, and we won’t get any sleep.” 

I always knew I should love the Word of God, but that night, my Grandmother taught me what that meant. 

Remember the Christians of your past – those in your family, our nation, and church history. 

“…I put thee in remembrance…” (2 Timothy 1:6).

Paul reminds Timothy to “stir up the gift of God, which is in thee.”

Christian, God has given you talents and abilities. Stir them up and use them for Him. God has a plan for you, and He is the Creator. He built you to fulfill His will and give Him glory. Use what He has given you to accomplish the task. 

“…put them in remembrance…” (2 Timothy 2:14).

Paul tells Timothy to remind other Christians that their words should mean something. Here is the whole verse. 2 Timothy 2:14, “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.”

Paul tells Timothy to remind the Christians that their words should have value. Don’t cuss, lie, or gossip – get the truth out. 

The Word of God is the Word that changes lives. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The Holy Spirit works through His Word. With faith comes salvation; with salvation comes a change of heart; with the change of heart comes a lifestyle change. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Holidays are one-day events, but some things should remain in our minds constantly. 

Remember those Christians who came before us.

Remember the gifts God has given you and use them.

Remember to remind other Christians of who they are and Who they represent. 

Preacher Johnson is the Pastor of Countryside Baptist Church in Parke County Indiana. Website: www.preachers-point.com; Email: preacherspoint@gmail.com; Mail: 25 W 1200 N; Kingman IN 47952.  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Timothy-Preacher-Johnson-101171088326638. All Scripture KJV.