Reminders
Have you heard this insightful definition of the word nag?
Nag – to remind someone of something they haven’t forgotten.
We people have mixed reactions to reminders. Sometimes we say, “Oh, thank you! I had forgotten!” And sometimes we say with an edge in our voice and our hands on our hips, “Yes, I know!”
Parents want to train their children to remember what they need to remember and to follow through without parents having to remind them. As we all know, it often takes many reminders before children get to that point. We adults aren’t so different.
As you have sent us message after message that you are praying for us, Ray and I have appreciated the reminders you have given us, too, reminders such as:
- God is completely sovereign. God is infinite in wisdom. God is perfect in love.
- God hears you both, sees you, loves you! May He give you His peace: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)
It is easy to get discouraged when your children forget and need reminding, and especially when they resist your reminders. From childhood we need to learn that reminders aren’t necessarily nagging. Reminders can be sweet acts of love.
God loves us so much that every spring He reminds us that He has kept His creation alive through the winter.
Every week He reminds us of what is most important when we come together to worship Him and when we remember Jesus’ death for us in the Lord’s Supper.
And when He had taken some bread and given thanks,
He broke it and gave it to them, saying,
“This is My body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of Me.”
Luke 22:19
When the apostle Peter wrote “To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ,” he knew that he didn’t have much time on earth. Therefore he had some reminders for them.
Therefore, I will always be ready
to remind you of these things,
even though you already know them,
and have been established in the truth which is present with you.
I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling,
to stir you up by way of reminder,
knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent,
as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
2 Peter 1:12-14
This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you
in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
that you should remember the words spoken beforehand
by the holy prophets
and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
2 Peter 3:1
A personal note: Ray continues to feel better. He has an appointment with a cardiac surgeon next week. Thank you very much for your prayers and your words of love and encouragement.
Later today, you can click here to find today’s dose of Winter Cheer. The webpage has all of the Winter Cheer videos with the most recent ones nearest the top of the page.