For We Have Need, Brothers and Sisters, For Restating Obvious Things

Reminders are for Guidance

“It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.” (Philippians 3:1, NIV).

Think how often a parent, a teacher, or a coach have to tell a person an idea. How often did someone in your life have to remind you growing up of an idea? “Oh yea…” you say to yourself. Think back for a second to the moments your siblings, or you yourself needed to be told something more than once growing up.

When teaching or coaching, especially with little ones, be prepared to say the same thing 100 times. Sometimes we have to drill something into ourselves, tasting the idea again, feeling the idea again, and in the case of God—reveling in and enjoying, and worshiping God through the idea again.

Does it bother you when someone tells you something you “already know”? Yes, there are those who take this to an extreme. There are those who would say, “Repeat this idea like a mantra,” or those who would say, “Positive words have power—keep saying it.” The problem with these extremes is in the heart of the speaker, relying on their own power and continual ushering for the idea to work into them.

Though trusting in our repetition isn’t good (Jesus says, the pagans are the ones who repeat prayers over and over at a time, thinking they are ushering it into God’s hands in Matthew 6:7), trusting that we need to go back to old truths each day—that is different. You see, going back to old truths is a way of savoring, like sitting in old memories as we behold the treasure of something. If you want to endure the race, remind yourself of the goal. If you want to win the war, remind the squadron what end they are fighting for; bring to mind what they are desperate to accomplish.

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, ESV)

Reminders Are for Endurance

What is our central goal in reminding one another? That we might endure. Helping one another keep our eyes above, reminding each other of the riches and worth of our great race, and to keep on and keep on with our fervor. To strengthen our weak knees and lift up our heads, yet one more time.

“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.” (Hebrews 5:11, ESV)

Reminders Are for Growth

By the end of the fifth chapter in the book of Hebrews, it is revealed to the reader that the expectation for the Jerusalem church was that by then, they “ought to be teachers,” but at this point, they still “need milk.” The implication is that they are like infants in their knowledge of God, not mature, not able to add any knowledge to the conversation. The writer laments and pleads with them, reminding them that he has hope for better—but for them to change. He contends that, “solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14). This implies the need for repetition; to see God’s heart from different angles, addressing different situations, and conforming ours to His.

Peter in his second letter to the churches says, “Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught” (2 Peter 1:12, NLT). And we see the apostle Jude reiterate the same sentiment in his letter, “Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you…” (Jude 1:5, BSB).

This is not just a gentle challenge to grow, but also a hard question: Have you become complacent? If we are content to stay in a state of spiritual infancy, constantly needing to be spoon-fed basic truths, we are missing out on the fullness of what God has for us. Worse still, we might be deceiving ourselves into thinking that we are truly His children.

If you only thirst for milk all your life, can you really call yourself a child of God? A parent knows that a child will eventually want solid food. It’s natural. Imagine a bull that only desires milk and refuses to eat grass—such a bull would not survive. It would be a danger to itself and surely die. In the same way, a believer who refuses to grow, who never hungers for deeper truth, raises a serious question: Are they truly a believer at all? A true child of God will eventually hunger for something more than the basics. Milk is necessary for a baby, but if a child refuses to move on from milk to solid food, there’s something terribly wrong.

We can’t afford to stay in spiritual infancy. But moving beyond milk is not about leaving behind foundational truths. It’s about revisiting the same truths in a deeper way. We move beyond the milk by seeing Jesus’ heart in them. We grow by coming to a greater understanding of who Christ is, His love, His sacrifice, His mercy—in every aspect of the Word.

We don’t move past the basics; we see them with greater depth and clarity. The truths we already know should be seen through the lens of Christ’s heart for us. Solid food means to see those truths more fully, as they point us to Christ in richer, more beautiful ways.

More and more toward Christ. And Jesus said a similar sentiment to the church of Thyatira, He said to some to “hold fast” and continue, pressing in as they had been doing. And to the church in Colossae, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16, ESV).

Letting the word of God dwell richly in us? How do we let the word not only dwell in us—but richly?

It is to continue on with our marathon. It is to dig deeper into the word, to remind one another of old truths, and to savor and delight in, and treasure these things up into our hearts.

Consider how we accept truth. Many of us may see it as a pester to have someone prod us with things we already know. We might feel like it is a test of our knowledge, or a questioning of our person. Let us instead encourage one another to revel in these old truths. To sit with these truths and see them like an old friend visiting from a long trip. Imagine, you never expected to see this friend again, and they are again at your doorstep. They are back from the years of war or toil and they smile and greet you at the top. You won’t tire of seeing this friend again, you’re instead filled with warmth. Let us take in truths this way, come home and revisit old wisdoms; bring me back to the experiences and shared memories of what you’ve taught me. They are wonderful because they point me to God.

Reminders Are a Safeguard to Our Soul

To dwell on the truth again is a “safeguard” to our souls, as stated before in Philippians 3, and it is dipping our roots into the stream. Just as the psalmist preaches to himself when he doubts, saying, “believe in God, oh my soul,” so we remind one another to believe again.

Sometimes hearing old ideas that we ‘already know,’ can feel like somebody condescending us. We think to ourselves, ‘I know, I know. I get it already.’ Yet, sometimes we don’t fully understand, or some aspect of this repeated word was intended by God to sit like a hot ember in our hearts again. Rather than allowing truth to settle in us like old mud particles, let these particles rather catch flame, like energized laser ions—burning bright and electric.

Points of Reflection:

Why do you think God chooses to remind us of things we already know?
How does revisiting foundational truths help you grow spiritually?
Are there areas in your life where you need endurance?
How can you intentionally remind yourself of God’s promises in those areas?
What role do reminders of God’s Word play in your worship?
Do you find joy in revisiting old truths, or do you take them for granted?
What’s your response when truth feels repetitive or burdensome?
Can you approach it with a heart of reverence, looking for fresh revelation in familiar words?
What is a promise of God that you need to “sit on” today?
Perhaps there is a truth that is difficult or uncomfortable for you but crucial for your growth. Consider promises like:
- “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
- “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
- “All things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
These promises may not always feel comfortable or easy to accept because they don’t promise to immediately remove our struggles. Instead, they often teach us to see Jesus in the midst of our pain. They may not tear us from our present circumstances but help us trust God’s presence and purpose even when we don’t understand. Take a moment today to meditate on one of these promises—or another promise that God has spoken to your heart—and allow it to settle deeply in your soul. Reflect on how it shapes your view of God and your life.