Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23: 39-43)
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; Your walls are continually before Me” (Isaiah 49: 15-16).
A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance (Psalm 112: 5-6).
Remembered- not remembered by just anybody- but remembered by the Lord of all things. Truly this is an awesome truth.
The thief on the cross had lived a lifetime outside of the knowledge and will of God. Yet- at the very end of his earthly life- he asked Jesus to remember him. Without hesitation, Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” As soon as this man acknowledged Jesus for who He is and admitted his own sinful state, he was forgiven and remembered forever by the Lord.
If we have truly given our lives to God and are striving to pursue His righteousness, we will always be remembered by Him. In Isaiah 49, God makes an awesome statement, “A mother may forget her nursing child, but I will never forget you.” This is absolute assurance that we are always on His mind.
We are remembered when it seems everything has fallen apart. Consider Noah’s situation. The world had been destroyed by the flood- totally wiped out. However, Genesis 8:1 says, “Then God remembered Noah…” God remembered. The wind began to pass over the earth and the waters subsided. Sometimes it seems everything is falling apart in our lives. God remembers us just like He remembered Noah.
We are remembered when enemies come against us. God said this to the people of Israel in Numbers 10:9: “When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.” Scripture reminds us that “no weapon formed against us will prosper.” Yes, we will have enemies; our enemies cannot defeat us. Satan himself can take his best shots. The following Scriptures tell us what we are up against when it comes to him; they also tell us the end result:
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:11-12).
So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19).
Isn’t it great to know that we are remembered by our Heavenly Father? Isn’t it great to know that, because of His mercy, that will never change? Psalm 25:6 says, “Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindness; for they have been ever of old.”
Remembered! We can be exceedingly grateful that we are remembered by God.
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
by leaps and bounds 
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