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Reminders

         I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:14-16)

          There’s a quip on Face Book, something to the effect that “I know you want me to _____________, there’s no need to nag me every six months.” As I read through the Old Testament, I’m reminded how often we need to be reminded. As I’ve discussed the existence of God with atheists, they’ve often told me that if God would reveal Himself to them in some specific way that is usually meant to humiliate God, that they would believe in Him forever. My response is to ask how long after that revelation stopped would they decide it was a case of temporary insanity, or that it was just a natural phenomenon or a trick. Those who are honest admit that it wouldn’t take long.
        It’s just a matter of reality, we don’t remember important things as well as we should. We remember what is drilled into our heads repeatedly. I don’t suppose everyone is quite as intolerant of either repeating or having things repeated to me. I heard you the first time, even if I didn’t. And if I didn’t hear you the first time, I’ll ask you. There’s no need to tell me otherwise. Grr.
         Unfortunately, we’re all a lot like my father is right now. He admits that his mind is going, but he insists that his perception of reality and his memory is correct even when those around him whose minds aren’t going insist that it isn’t. We do the same thing. That’s why we need to be reminded. That’s why we need each other. That’s why we need to listen when others tell us what we either think we know, or don’t want to hear.

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