There’s an old German legend that tells of how the forget-me-not acquired its name. As the story goes, at Creation, the tiny flower feared it was too insignificant to be noticed, so it cried out to God, “forget me not!” God named the flower, and the legend ends well.
The cry of the tiny flower has been man’s cry through the ages. In Luke’s account of our Lord’s crucifixion, we hear these words falling on Jesus’ ears shortly before breathing His last breath when the criminal next to Him implores: “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42). Jesus assured the man he would not be forgotten.
Man’s Problem is Never that God Forgets Us
The answer to our forget-me-not cries is recorded hundreds of times in the Bible. It’s God’s very own voice echoing, “forget Me not.” It’s His cry to His people, and if we take hold of it, we obtain a powerful key to life.
Consider this:
- The word “remember” appears in the Bible (NASB) 168 times, slightly more than the occurrences of the word “believe.”
- Of the 569 references to Egypt, most refer to God’s plea to Israel to remember how He mightily delivered them out of slavery as being the key to life and blessings.
During the days following Jesus’ resurrection, we read that Peter came to a point where he decided to return to fishing, and the others followed. The text doesn’t come right out and state it, but it sure looks like Peter might have been beginning to forget and drift away. Nonetheless, his trip to the sea culminated in a life changing healing encounter with Jesus. It wasn’t a chance encounter. Jesus was there on the beach to meet Peter, waiting patiently for him to notice.
- What would have happened if Jesus wasn’t there at the beach?
- What would have happened if He hadn’t remained those 50 days to appear to His disciples?
- Would Peter have gone back to fishing?
- Would any of the disciples have been around on Pentecost?
Jesus remained to remind the disciples that all He preached before His death was, indeed, true. God’s plan for the world was unfolding. The disciples were an integral part of that plan, and they weren’t going it alone!
Making It Personal
Not long ago, Tanie and I started encountering some remarkable reminders from God. They came at a time when we were seriously contemplating going “back to fishing.” We had become missionaries experiencing the very maladies that we were called to remedy; we felt very forgotten by everyone.
But then, in the ordinary places of our lives, just waiting to be noticed, God planted some forget-me-nots.
Suddenly the image on a linen calendar that we give to friends in Ukraine displayed more than sunflowers (Ukraine’s national flower); they were accompanied by forget-me-nots.- Cleaning out the basement and pulling out our first set of tableware, guess what we discovered in the pattern?
- The most startling occurrence of all was when we took out our 29 year old wedding knife to find forget-me-nots adorning the handle as if God was saying, “When I created you and joined you in marriage, Forget-Me-Not Ministries was my plan for your life. Remember and do not forget.”
God’s cry to all His creation is, “forget Me not!” He will even send us personalized reminders. Keep your eyes and ears open…some come packaged in the most unusual ways!
What unique forget-Me-not reminders does God send you?
If you don’t remember ever receiving any, ask Him to start sending them today!
Listen to God’s forget-Me-not song, written and recorded by our missionary friend, Hannah Zaretsky.
More about Jeremiah and Hannah Zaretsky.
Wow. That’s all I can think of to say!!
What a precious song HalleluYah I hear yr love for Him within the beautiful frequency of yr voice Father showcased His Forget me knots to me in an abundant way this year that brought my heart much joy