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Praying 1 Thessalonians 5:1 – This Bears Repeating
This Bears Repeating (A Prayer Commentary – 1 Thessalonians 5:1)
TEXT: “About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you.” (CSB’17 1 Thessalonians 5:1)
DEVOTIONAL: “It goes without saying” usually does not go without saying. “I don’t need to remind you”, often is followed by a reminder. Most sermons don’t need preaching, except they need preaching.
This is nothing new. Paul said concerning “times and seasons”, “You don’t need anything written to you” (1 Thessalonians 5:1), and then he proceeds to write to them. In fact, they so misunderstood he had to write a second letter about something he didn’t need to write about the first time! We humans are that confusable! We doubt so easily what we already know. It’s as if we want to not know. Ignorance brings “freedom”!
What’s the point? You don’t need reminding of these, but…
1) We never know as much as we think, deeper truths support surface truths.
2) We always will need basic reminders, not because we don’t know, but to keep us from forgetting. While “the beginning of all knowledge is fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 1:7) , the continuation of all knowledge is repetition.
3) We never remember everything we forgot, even if we forgot not remembering.
So the next time you hear an old familiar topic, don’t close your ears. You just might need to hear what you don’t think you need to hear. Again.
PRAYER: Oh God of the Covenant, I am reminded of times your people “reminded” You of Your promises. You are not so weak-minded as to forget, yet repetition is for us. May we stay ever humble, hungry, and reminded. Amen.
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