“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.”

Peter was very intent on establishing truth in the life of his readers. He had been given the charge by Jesus Christ to pass along what he had learned, seen and be taught by our Savior. Quickly after Jesus’ ascension false teachers and doctrines started appearing. People were denying the resurrection. People were questioning the authority of the teachings of the apostles. People were listening to some very popular and persuasive speakers. There were theological challenges by the Jews and impact of pagan worship mixed with Christian teaching.     

Peter realized his life was soon going to end and it was important for the churches to remember what he had taught them as truth upon which the foundation of their faith is placed. What things are basic to remember? Remember what you have been taught and pass on what you have received to others. Keep truth foremost in your minds.      

God had established holidays as important ways for the people of Israel to remember His works with His people. Not only were they to pass on to the next generation the stories of God, but they were to participate in feasts and festivals as special times for worship and remembering.      

This month we set aside a day to remember and celebrate our youngest son’s birthday. During the year we remember at Thanksgiving of the grace of God when our forefathers came to this land and experienced death and poverty in their journey for freedom. We have special celebrations at Christmas and Easter to celebrate the birth and death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Every month there is something to celebrate and remember in personal and national ways.

All these holidays are designed to make us stop and remember important people, events or blessings.        

All through the Bible certain things were done and certain steps were taken to ensure that God’s people would remember God’s promises, God’s miracles or certain events from their past. God knew that by remembering the past, they would be better equipped for their future.

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Prayer and the celebration of communion for us to remember the cost of our salvation - the death of Himself on the cross for our sins.      

We meet each Sunday as believers to remind ourselves of truths of Christ in study, and worship and affirm the foundation by the teaching of the Word of God. Hymns, songs, memory verses and the fellowship of the believers are important ways to keep on keeping on.            

The qualities and characteristics that mark a Christian are to also be continually remembered because circumstances of life cause us to forget too easily. False teaching and doctrines cause us to doubt the truth. People will influence us in ways that cause us to depart from the ways of the Lord.           

Daily devotions and prayer and reading of the Word of God become each day important ways to remember truth since so much of the world bombards us with messages that teach the opposite.

Application:  What are you doing to keep remembering?

Prayer:  Lord, God, how I love to remember all you have done to save us.   As we remember, we can't help but say what an Awesome God You Are.  Today I commit to singing praise through music and Your Word.