The pundits and late-night comics pounced on Rick Perry’s embarrassing 53-second memory loss, which occurred in a debate earlier this month. What the experts dubbed a brain freeze was Perry’s inability to remember one of the 3 federal agencies he wants to shut down when he becomes president.
Knowing a little bit about the human brain (I am, after all, a psychologist!), I’ve learned that forgetting is something the brain does when it is overloaded, like deleting data from your ‘documents’ folder. But just like the brain, deleting files doesn't actually remove the data from your computer; it just “forgets to remember” the data. And if needed, can be retrieved.
In I Corinthians 6, the phrase “Don’t you know” appears seven times. This repetition makes one wonder if the Corinthian church was an elderly population suffering from dementia. But Paul knew that they knew these things—he was simply reminding them of what they had seemingly forgotten. Likewise, we are in danger, if we do not “pay more careful attention to what we have heard” (Heb. 2:1).
We definitely need to be reminded about godliness. It came to mind 2 Peter 1:12-15. "Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, —(see 2 Peter 3-11)— though you know them, and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, ...Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things.." Peter reminds us in 3 verses that we need to be reminded.
ReplyDeleteIt is equally amazing the stress the Lord put in keeping His statutes and His laws playing over and over in our minds, hearts, mouths, and keeping them in sight so that we would not forget them. We need to be constantly reminded because the outside influences, and even our own hearts if gone unchecked can drive us into a life of misery, away from the godliness and purity the Lord desires from our lives.
Deuteronomy 4:9 "Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and grandchildren." (By the way, an amazing role for grand-parents).
Deuteronomy 6:6-9; and a phrase that is all over the book of Deuteronomy "Beware that you do not forget" (Deut. 8:11)
Let's be aware of the fact that Satan wants us to forget, let's beware of prideful thinking that assures us that we don't need to be reminded.
Thank you again for your insightful addition. The subject of "listening" and/or "paying attention" is one of my favorites. I've written a number of blogs on this topic. If you click on the words "pay attention" on my 'labels' today, you'll find all the blogs on the subject.
ReplyDeleteThank you again. Greg