"The Necessity of Repetition"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"The Necessity of Repetition"

      "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth" (II Peter 1:12).

     Every preacher loves the Apostle Peter's affirmation of repetition.  We all necessarily repeat ourselves, or offer thoughts people have heard other communicators of God's Word declare.  At the very least, 99.99% of our messages include some form of repetition, and even seemingly original insights are actually as ancient as eternity if faithful to God and His Word.  "Hey, the Apostle Peter repeated himself and said it was a good thing to do!"  This is the preacher's fallback position when accused of redundancy, and certainly a favorite response of mine!

   Seriously, in a fallen world, God's truth must be received and confirmed on a regular basis in all our hearts and minds.  Scripture does not refer to us as "the sheep  of His pasture" for no reason at all (Psalm 100:3).  We easily forget.  Or we may remember, but without the impact that leads to faith and faithfulness.  The Lord's Supper offers a wonderful confirmation of the necessity of repetition.  No born again believer ever forgets the Lord Jesus Christ died for us.  Such wonder supplies the very basis of our relationship with God.  However, our Heavenly Father instituted a primary ordinance of remembering our Savior's sacrifice (I Corinthians 11:25-26).  The observance offers opportunity for a pointed remembrance that confirms an already established conviction in our hearts.  Again, we seek to remember with impact.  "I remember the days of old.  I meditate on all Thy works.  I muse on the work of Thy hands" (Psalm 143:5).

   The blessed wonder of God's truth surely warrants repeated appreciation and growing assimilation.  Paul taught that we know nothing yet as we ought to know (I Corinthians 8:2).  The infinite measure of our Lord's light means that every jot and tittle shines with eternal realities that can never be completely seen and understood.  Regardless of how well we know even the seemingly simplest of God's truths, they beckon us to come further, climb higher, dive deeper.  This requires repetition as well as discovery.  Peter well knew the necessity, providing preachers justification for repeating ourselves, but far more importantly, calling all of us to greater consideration and appreciation of Truth for which even eternity will not allow complete understanding.

"His understanding is infinite."

(Psalm 147:5)

"I will remember the works of the Lord.  Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old."

(Psalm 77:11)

Weekly Memory Verse

      I will remember the works of the Lord.  Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.

(Psalm 77:11)

  

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