"Remembrance Of These Things"
We do not have pictures made of loved ones and then just look at them ONE time and do away with them. But, by looking at the picture often we are put in remembrance of that loved one.
The apostle Peter said, "Therefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and to be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet ,as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by PUTTING YOU IN REMEMBRANCE; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease TO HAVE THESE THINGS ALWAYS IN REMEMBRANCE." 2 Peter 1:12-15.
Had some of our present day brethren been living then, they would have accused Peter of being a HOBBY RIDER. WHY? Because Peter continually preached on the SAME things. Some have NOT learned the wisdom of repetition. NOT VAIN repetitions. But, the above passage teaches that there is wisdom in repeating things that the people of God need to keep in mind. Paul shows that this is true when he says that though he had told them before of these things, yet, he was telling them again (Gal. 1:8-9; 5:21). Some brethren think that a preacher should JUST mention a thing ONE time. And if he DOES mention that particular thing quite often, some are ready to brand him as a hobby-rider. They would so brand the apostles of Jesus Christ. Man needs to be reminded over and over of important things lest he forgets them. The Bible is filled with reminders of things that the people already knew. A preacher's lessons today ought to be the same. (1 Tim. 4:6) "If thou PUT THE BRETHREN IN REMEMBRANCE of these things, THOU SHALT BE A GOOD MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST . . . ." Many preachers today are NOT good ministers because they do NOT put brethren in remembrance. But, rather, they say, "I don't need to preach on that subject, the brethren here already know it."
Parents tell their children to "be good." They usually REPEAT this EVERY time the children leave the house. Now, why don't they just tell the child ONCE. Because parents realize that by repeating the thing, it will be impressed upon the child's mind so that they will NOT forget.
If you wish to soak a log, you do not just dash a bucket of water on it and forget it. But by slowly and constantly putting the water on the log, all the water will be soaked into the log. So, with the word of the Lord, we, as the children of God must "soak" up that Word. By constantly repeating a study of that Word, we will be impressed with the lessons taught.
The principles of righteousness need to be repeated over and over lest we drift from them. Any man who is a GOOD minister will obey this injunction. Yes, some will criticize him; but so what? Did they not do the same with the apostles? And Jesus Christ? If the people of God are drifting from TRUTH in any particular thing; THAT IS THE VERY THING THAT NEEDS TO BE PREACHED. Any preacher who fails to warn against it is NOT a good minister. It is amazing how some preachers pride themselves on NOT preaching on the ISSUES. They simply flaunt in the fact of God their DISOBEDIENCE and show the brethren that they cannot be depended upon to fulfill their responsibilities as a preacher of the gospel.
May God help all preachers to put the brethren in remembrance of those things that the people of God should remember.