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A Life of Refreshment

A Life of Refreshment

Words of Faith 3-5-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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2 Peter 1

    [12] So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. [13] I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, [14] because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. [15] And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

 

       As Peter wrote, he seemed to know that his days were numbered.  He wanted the believers reading this letter to retain the truths he was writing so three times he spoke of remembering--   I will remind you...  I refresh your memory... you will be able to remember.  Peter was not being critical of the believers, nor did he suggest they were wavering. Instead, he said they did know the truths he wrote about, and he was aware that they were firmly established in the truth. He simply wanted them to stay that way.

        A problem in many churches today is not that believers do not know what God calls them to and expects of them, but that they either forget or are unwilling to live out the truth they now have.  Expecting he would soon be with the Lord, Peter wanted to refresh-- literally "keep on refreshing"-- their memories as long as he was allowed by the Lord of life to live in the earthly tent of this body.

        Peter would put that tent aside, as the Lord had made clear to him. The Lord Jesus had been clear that Peter would die by crucifixion (John 21:18-19).  He was aware that his earthly life was almost at an end. The image of this earthly body as a tent fits well with the pilgrimage he had been describing.

        The word departure (exodon) is not the usual word for "death" but it does not veil the clarity of Peter's understanding that he was soon to die. Interestingly this "exodus"-- "going out," from this body-- contrasts with a believer's "entrance" into eisodos-- "going into"-- God's kingdom.

        So how could Peter guarantee that after his death, his readers would always be able to remember these things? Some think this refers to Peter's obvious aid in preparing the Gospel of Mark.  He was also laboring to complete this second epistle, which, when joined with the first, would provide an ongoing written testimony of the truths so close to his heart.

         But most important, Peter had invested his life and ministry into the lives of others such as Silas and Mark, who would carry on his work after he died. One thing is clear-- Peter wanted to be sure that the Lord's people would not forget God's work and God's Word.

        It is powerful to realize that we are to be in places of refreshment-- places that remind us of the powerful truths of our faith.  We are called to be ever reminded of the precious relationship with God that is available to us moment to moment in Jesus.  We are to remember the truths that Peter and others have extended to us in the Word of God and in people who live the Gospel into our lives.

 

        Father God, draw me into the place of refreshment.  Remind me of who I am in You.  Remind me of whose I am.  Lift my heart with encouragement as You make my walk steadfast with You.  In Jesus' Name.

 

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, and our website, and our church app, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.  

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