5 Powerful Reasons We All Need Reminders
“It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.” (Philippians 3:1, NIV).
Reminders are for coaching
When teaching or coaching, especially with little ones, be prepared to say the same thing 100 times. Sometimes we have to drill something into ourselves, tasting the idea again, feeling the idea again, and in the case of God – revealing in and enjoying and worshiping God through the idea again.
Does it bother you when someone tells you something you “already know?” Yes, some take this to an extreme. Some would say, “repeat this idea like a mantra,” or those who would say, “positive words have power – keep saying it.” The problem with these extremes is in the speaker’s heart; they rely on their power and continual ushering for the idea to work into them.
Though trusting in our repetition isn’t good (Jesus says, the pagans are the ones who repeat prayers over and over, at a time, thinking they are ushering it into God’s hands in Matthew 6:7), but trusting that we need to go back to old truths each day – that is different.
You see, going back to old truths is a way of savoring, like sitting in old memories as we behold the treasure of something. If you want to endure the race, remind yourself of the goal. If you’re going to win the war, remind the squadron what end they are fighting, bring to mind what they are desperate to accomplish.
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, ESV)
Reminders are for endurance
What is our central goal in reminding one another? That we might endure. Helping one another keep our eyes above, reminding each other of the riches and worth of our great race, and to keep on and keep on with our fervor. To strengthen our weak knees and lift our heads, yet one more time.
“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.” (Hebrews 5:11, ESV)
Reminders are for growth
By the end of the fifth chapter in the book of Hebrews, it is revealed to the reader that the expectation for the Jerusalem church was that by then, they “ought to be teachers,” but at this point, instead, they still “need milk.” The implication is that they are like infants in their knowledge of God yet, and not mature, not able to add any knowledge to the conversation.
The writer laments and pleads with them, reminding them that he has hope for better – but for them to change. He contends that “solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14). This implies the need for repetition; to see God’s heart from different angles, addressing different situations, and conforming ours to His.
Peter in his second letter to the churches, says,
“Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught” (2 Peter 1:12, NLT).
And we see the apostle Jude reiterate the same sentiment in his letter,
“Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you…” (Jude 1:5, BSB).
Beloved, we need reminders, and let us not grow dull in hearing them. Instead, let us rather continue toward our upward goal with new energy. As Paul urged the church in Thessalonica,
“And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more” (1 Thess. 4:10, BSB).
Reminders are for savoring and worship
“More and more,” toward Christ. And Jesus said a similar sentiment to the church of Thyatira; he said to some to “hold fast,” and to continue, pressing in as they had been doing. And to the church in Colossae,
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16, ESV).
Letting the Word of God dwell richly in us? How do we let the Word not only dwell in us — but richly?
It is to continue with our marathon. It is to dig deeper into the Word, to remind one another of old truths, and to savor and delight in, and treasure these things up into our hearts.
Consider how we accept the truth.
Many of us may see it as a pester to have someone prod us with things we already know. We might feel like it is a test of our knowledge or questioning our person. Let us instead encourage one another to revel in these old truths. To sit with these truths and see them like an old friend visiting from a long trip. Imagine, you never expected to see this friend again, and they are also at your doorstep.
Read: No One Plans to Fail, They Just Fail to Plan
They are back from the years of war or toil, and they smile and greet you at the top. You won’t tire of seeing this friend again; you’re instead filled with warmth. Let us take in truths this way, come home and revisit old pearls of wisdom; bring me back to the experiences and shared memories of what you’ve taught me. They are lovely because they point me to God.
Reminders are a safeguard to our soul
To dwell on the truth again is a “safeguard” to our souls as stated before in Philippians 3, and it is dipping our roots into the stream. Just as the psalmist preaches to himself when he doubts, saying, believe in God oh my soul, so we remind one another to think again.
Sometimes, we hear old ideas that we ‘already know’ can feel like somebody condescending to us. We think to ourselves, ‘I know, I know. I get it already.’ Yet, sometimes we don’t fully understand, or God intended some aspect of this repeated Word to sit like a hot ember in our hearts again. Rather than allowing truth to settle in us like old mud particles, let these particles instead catch flame, like energized laser ions – burning bright and electric.
Casey is passionate about helping other Christian men in their walk with Jesus Christ. His writings on faith draws from a love of malacology, kinesiology, and quantum physics.
