Reminders

I forgot my glasses. Again. Ugh. Without them I could not see the tiny grocery labels, nor the novel I brought to read while waiting for my hair appointment.

It happened often enough in the early days of needing glasses that a friend and I worked up a reminder. I’d say out loud, “I have my purse.” Then I would respond to myself (or she would if she were with me), “Did you get your glasses?” I rehearsed this until it became an automatic response. To this day I use the response to help me remember.

But there’s something far more important we all need to be reminded of than glasses. Sometimes we forget who we are. Sometimes we also forget who God is. We may know it well, but sometimes those pesky lies from God’s enemy show up in our mind and threaten to derail us. Depending on where we are in our walk with the Lord, and what life circumstances we are in the middle of, it may derail us for a minute or a month or more.

You know the lies. The ones that say we don’t measure up. (Everyone else is better than we are in their faith, in their job, in their relationships). We are weak. We don’t hear God’s voice. We can’t possibly be loved by God. Everyone around us is only being nice because that’s what they are supposed to do.

Some days I have my sword ready and the lies are thwarted before taking root. But some days I am weary or make a mistake that hurts someone, and the lies threaten to linger. So how do I/we handle those times? Peter gives us the answer. We need to remember.

Peter says, “So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” 2 Peter 1:12-15

What do we need to remember?

1. We need to remember who Jesus is and what He’s like. After these verses Peter revisits the power and majesty he personally witnessed when Jesus’ face shone like the sun and His clothes became as light on the Mt of Transfiguration. And God said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 17:1-5

John reminds us Peter was the first to walk into the empty tomb. He saw the truth of the resurrection with his own eyes. (John 20:6-7) John also reminds us how Jesus lovingly “reinstated” Peter (John 21:15-19) when He told Peter to feed His sheep. Jesus made sure Peter knew his huge “mistake” of denying Him 3 times was forgiven and Jesus trusted Peter’s continued ministry.

2. We need to remember His promise to love us as revealed in His response to Hannah’s heartbroken cry for a child. The child that would take away the shame of her barrenness, the taunts of her rival, and the emptiness of her arms. (1 Samuel 1:2-19)

3. We need to remember despite the fact it’s the Holy Spirit that works within us to strengthen our faith, bring the fruit of the Spirit, and cause us to grow, we need to do our part by seeking God. Yes, through all those things you know – prayer, worship, the Bible., obedience.

But prayer, worship and Bible reading are so much more than a checklist. They are avenues by which we can enter the Holy Place where we encounter the Living God. Where we can get glimpses of what Peter saw on the mountain, in the grave, and on the shore with Jesus. Those glimpses start a victorious cycle. We see Him, feel Him, know Him, and we want more. We are filled with the power and desire to love others and to obey. It’s so satisfying that our hearts are stirred, and we want more, so we again seek Him in the Holy Place.

I’m thankful God understands I need reminders of Who He is and who I am. He shows me those through His recorded interactions with flawed people in the Bible who messed up the same way I do, yet He forgave them and built them up again instead of berating them. He didn’t consider them failures disqualified for relationship and service. Quite the opposite. He reached out in forgiveness, told them to sin no more, gave them a hug (so to speak), and joined them in continuing on with His call on their lives.

Who is God? Powerful Creator, Majestic Glory, Loving Savior, Everlasting Lord.

Who am I? I am loved by Him.