Ephesians 2:12
“remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
Remembering is important. While Jesus was demonstrating the Lord's Supper His famous line at the end was "Do this in remember of Me." We may have accepted Christ as a youngster and lived 70 more years, but we are to always cherish the Lord's work. It was very costly and it accomplished so much. While we know what was done, we can always go deeper with a fresh application. We were saved from something so horrible, we can't comprehend it. By remembering the cross, we learn another dimension of it.
The Lord did many works for Israel and He would ask them to set up a memorial. He wanted them to remember what was done and to pass it on. It may have been a rescue, a great gift, a deliverance and so on. The passover celebration was all about remembrance.
Today's passage charges us to remember that we were separate from Christ. Verse 11 mentioned that we were in an excluded group, the gentiles. We were scorned and not allowed to join God's chosen group. We were lost and on a bad path. It's as if God reached into the swamp and plucked us out, placed us on dry ground and dried us off. We slept for days. As we awoke He gradually gave us nourishment and hope. Thus began a new life. He saved us on the cross, then rescued us in our time. We are never to forget that.
Remembering this keeps us humble and open. Jesus healed ten lepers and only one returned to say, "Thanks". Jesus questioned him and asked, "Where are the other nine?" It doesn't mean they lost their healing, but they were immature. Remembering helps us see our blind spots.
It's natural to grow comfortable and to gain confidence. However, this can make us closed. It's that state that causes people to ignore God's messages. Remembering the cross opens us up to what God has next. The pharisees were smart, religious leaders. However, their traditions had put them off course from God. When Jesus came, they saw Him as an enemy. Nicodemus was an exception. He sought Jesus out and inquired of Him. Remembering keeps us from being rigid.
Remembering helps us to be open and forgiving with others. When we aren't, we can be impatient and judgmental with them. God wants us to be understanding and accepting.
Lord, help us to remember what we were and to remember what You've done for us. Keep us open and ready for whoever or whatever You've got next.