Paul “…reminds them again…” Romans 15:15

Paul is writing to the Jewish Christians here who are “complete in knowledge” (Romans 15:14) – they have been taught how to live their lives as Christians, yet Paul “reminds them again”.

I wonder if this passage is here to provide us with some comfort, that just like the Jewish Christians of Paul’s time, we too need to be reminded of how to behave as Christians.  And like our children who will follow after us, they too will need to be reminded.  Interestingly enough, Paul doesn’t berate them or insult them, rather he builds them up saying they are “full of goodness” and “competent to instruct one another”.  Isn’t that just like Jesus?  He reminds us how much He loves us and how He sees us, but He reminds us of how we need to behave.  Now whether we listen or not – that my friends, is an entirely different thing.

When I read this, those three little words struck me right to my core, and I thought to myself that God recently reminded me again.  Maybe you, like me, have been reminded by God too.

I struggle with this and maybe you do too, it hurts deeply to be reminded and a sense of failure sets in me and I am overwhelmed with tears.  While I know God sees my tears, I think He lovingly wipes them away, waits for me to compose myself, picks me up, puts me on my feet, brushes me off and says ok now, let’s get on with it.

I have learned to understand that I am human, I will need to be reminded time and again. God loves me and you so much that He never tires of reminding us and drawing us close to Him.  And I think to myself, what a merciful, loving God, and I am thankful.

I think of that famous painting “The Creation of Adam” on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.   When I look at the painting, I see God who is reaching out with great strength and intentionality, His eyes focused and yet gentle.  I look over to Adam and I see complacency, indifference on his face and I see a limp hand barely making an effort to reach out to God.  I see myself as Adam from time to time and I am not proud of it.  I see my limp hand when I am “too busy” with my life, working, cooking, exercising, doing laundry, spending time with friends and family, or resting.  It is not that God doesn’t want me to do any of that, but He does want me to put Him first in my life to reach out to Him in all I do, to connect with Him deeply, to depend on His wisdom and guidance solely.  But yet I stray and I am thankful that He reminds me:

He reminds me of why I am here.

He reminds me of His love for me.

He reminds me of His protection.

He reminds me to rest in Him.

He reminds me to walk down the path of righteousness for His name’s sake.

He reminds you too….

I believe God reminds us all in different ways about different things.  We are human and fallible and we are going to mess up.  Thankfully our God never leaves us, always walks beside us and lovingly “reminds” us to come back to Him.  So instead of beating ourselves up that we strayed (yet again) or that we needed to be reminded of a lesson (yet again), maybe we should consider changing our thought process to one of thanksgiving.  Maybe we should be thankful that God is merciful, patient and loves us deeply enough to endlessly pursue us.

Father, might we change our eyes to see these moments with great thanksgiving and might it inspire us to reach out our hand to You with great fervor to connect with You.  Might we be reenergized to do what we have been called to do as a thanksgiving offering. Amen