Be Reminded
Chloe's car seat generally bounces from car to car on any given day. Last Friday morning it was in Holden's truck, and I needed it for the day, so I reminded him to take it out before he left. He agreed. About an hour later, knowing I really needed the car seat, I reminded him again. "Hey, make sure you don't forget." In my house, a second reminder could go one of two ways. It is either followed by, "I'm glad you said that, I totally forgot!" or a flat and slightly annoyed "I know. You said that already." The received response on Friday was the latter.
Now, just for a moment, imagine that I walked outside as he was unbuckling the seat to remove it from the truck. "Hey, make sure you don't forget!"
Essentially, this is what we see Peter doing in 2 Peter 1:12, when he says, “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.”
He goes on to say in verses 13-15 that this is intentional. They read, “I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”
Peter tells us exactly why he is reminding even when his readers are doing the very things he is reminding them to do. He does it to stir up his listeners and to make sure that they always remember his words.
As I reflect on Sunday's message about consistency and the importance buried in repetitive passages, I'm reminded to be reminded. My prayer is that the reminding of the Holy Spirit would stir us up and help us always to remember. May we never reply with a flat and slightly annoyed "I know. You said that already."
- Heather
Heather Garrett leads Regen's Prayer Team. She and her husband Holden live in Girard with their daughter Chloe and dog Myles.
