To Jog Your Memory

       Our memories are important to us and dementia is never a pleasant thing. While at one of my ministries, I noticed that the staff in rehabilitation would create “memory” books for some of the residents. It would consist of a book or album of pictures that were labeled in order to remind the person of who they were, what their family looked like and many important events of their past. I guess it is why we have so many photo albums around the house. Now, I have several photo programs on my computer that have stored over 5,000 pictures. Every now and then, I look at them and memories just come back where I had perhaps forgotten certain events that took place some years ago. Second Timothy 4:19-21 says, “Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.” 

        Paul didn't have memory problems that I know of. He also wrote a large portion of the letters in the New Testament do different groups of people scattered over Europe and Asia Minor. Missionaries used to be advised about using a few pictures in our letters home or to other groups of people in order to make them aware of the ministry. Paul didn't have a camera in his day, but he still left a word picture at the end of many of his letters. Here, in the final words to young Timothy, Paul names several people that Timothy was to remember as they greet Timothy through the writings of the Apostle Paul. This list of fellow workers in the ministry of the gospel was an encouragement to Timothy. In like manner, we should be speaking words of encouragement to others. I recall a couple of times in Spain where the entire group of missionaries from United World Mission gathered together for a meeting and we took a group picture and each of us would send it to our supporters to help show the work that was going on in Spain at that time. Everyone was waving in one of those pictures. In the end of Paul's second epistle to Timothy, it is as though everyone is waving to those who are reading the letter and it is a reminder that the work is not being done by just one person who is isolated in a distant land but is being done by thousands of like minded believers around the world. You may not be suffering from dementia or even have forgotten just a few things now and then, but be encouraged by the ministries that continue in places where you have been. The LORD has blessed us abundantly and sometimes it takes a picture or a memory to remind us of what He is doing right now in the ministry to which we have been blessed. So, praise God today for the workers in your “field” of ministry and be encouraged. Also, be a blessing to others as you say “Hello” to them in their own field of ministry.