The Power is in the Reminder

We have all learned lessons thorough out our lives, some more impactful than others. Some of our life lessons are very big, “whoa”, moments. This year I had one of those, “whoa, that is huge” moments.

It was when I realized, “The power is in the reminder.”

Consider something we are all very familiar with. We, or someone we know, determines to get healthier. Maybe they want to lose weight, or maybe they want to eat better, or get fit. Whatever the goal, they start (usually on a Monday) and go full throttle. Tuesday they are still amped up and the hit the ground running again. Wednesday morning the motivation is starting to diminish; and at some point, within a couple weeks the plan as fallen by the wayside.

I would contend that the motivation diminishes because the fire that got them started has faded. The fire has faded because they forgot why they started. If we would write out the reason we decided to do a certain thing, and our plan to get there, and commit to reading it every morning, as a reminder of the why, what, and how we are doing this thing, we will be much more likely to continue on with zeal.

The reality is, we do not need reminding for the easy stuff because it is human nature to take the path of least resistance. I don’t need to be reminded to eat doughnuts and cookies; I just need them available. I need to be reminded why I DO NOT want to eat doughnuts and cookies. I don’t need to be reminded to spend hours a week scrolling on my phone, I need to be reminded why I don’t want to waste my time doing that.

The day I had this revelation that the power is in the reminder I was studying 1Peter:

2Peter 1:13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,

Peter wrote this after he gave them instruction to “make every” effort to grow as a Christian. Peter also instructs them to be diligent to confirm their calling and election. In other words, they (and we) are to make every effort to grow and be diligent to confirm we are true believers.

One of the most powerful reminders we can have regarding the Christian faith is the powerful words of Paul in Galatians 5 when he wrote, “those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God”. Some versions say, “those who do such things”, some versions say, “those who live this way”. For a non-believer, or one who is not interested in inheriting eternal life, they have no desire to be aware, or reminded of these things. But for the Christian, for one that desires to go to Heaven, we ought to be reminded continually of “such things”.

What are the “such things” Paul is referring to?
Paul is referring to “works of the flesh”, our “sinful nature”. To confirm there is no confusion about what the “works of the flesh” are, Paul gives a list. But, before we look at them, let’s consider again what Paul said, “those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven”, they will not go to Heaven.

How can we identify whether we are “practicing” these things?
We are continually told in Scripture to turn away from sin, to put to death the sinful deeds of the body. You could say we are practicing sin if we are deliberately and habitually living in sin; as an ongoing pattern we are “doing” sin.

In God’s Grace, Mercy, and Patience He gives men time to repent. The reality is, we all deserve to be struck down the moment we sin against Him – but He does not do that. Who among us has not deliberately sinned even after having come to know and believe the Gospel? Yet, in His Grace, Mercy, and Patience He is still calling you to quit practicing sin and instead, hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Deliberate and habitual sin shows as evidence of a few possibilities:
• You presume upon God’s Grace; meaning you think, “God would never send me to hell, I am saved by His Grace, and He’ll save me even if I continue in sin.”
• You are not truly thankful for the Gospel. As an analogy that pales in comparison, but still helps make the point: it is as if someone bailed you out of an impossible financial debt and simply asked that you to no longer use credit cards; and the very next day you run out and start running up your credit card debt again buying stuff you do not need. This shows you aren’t thankful for the bailout, but instead it shows you have little regard for it, and even expect the person to bail you out again down the road.
• You love sin more than Him. This reminds me of the saying, “We don’t have a time problem, we have a priority problem.” We make time for what and who is important to us. For example, friends are important, but if I am being honest, if one of my children needs me for something they will take priority over plans I have with friends. The easy indicator whether someone loves sin more than Him is when the sin takes priority over obedience. This is not saying we don’t stumble, but as a continued priority we choose sin.
• You have been hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Only God knows whether this has happened, but it is certainly Biblical to consider the possibility that one has continued in rebellion so long, have resisted warnings enough times, that they have been given over to sin and have become callous to any sensitivity to their continued practice of sin

What is the list of “these things” Paul is referring to?
• Sexual Immorality (adultery, fornication, homosexuality, looking with lust, etc.)
• Impurity / Uncleanness (unclean thought, word, and action)
• Sensuality (lack of self-control, to indulge in whatever the flesh desires)
• Idolatry (worship of anything or anyone other than the One True God; including a god of your imagination)
• Sorcery (occult practices, witchcraft, drug-induced trances, worship of evil powers)
• Hostility (hatred, enmity, intense bitterness)
• Strife (angry, bitter conflict)
• Jealousy (envious, covetous)
• Fits of anger (outbursts of anger, rage)
• Disputes (selfish ambition, quarrels)
• Dissensions (strong disagreement that leads to quarreling)
• Factions (divisions that lead to heresies (doctrine contrary to Scripture))
• Envy (resentment aroused by someone else’s possessions, ability, or qualities)
• Drunkenness (drinking for the purpose of getting intoxicated)
• Riotous Behavior (orgies, carousing, revelry, wild living)

These are 15 items that serve as examples of living in sin; but this is not an exhaustive list. We know this is not an exhaustive list because at the end Paul says, “and things like these”.

We must be careful not to conclude that, “if I am doing ‘good’ on 14 of these 15 items I am ok”. Our assessment of whether or not we are “walking by the flesh” or “by the Spirit” is not a grade based on a curve, it is a pass/fail. As we read through this list, if we recognize in item as an issue in our life, we are called to confess it to God, ask for forgiveness, and set ourself on a different coarse.

Living by the Spirit is in direct opposition to walking in the flesh. Living by the Spirit is evident when we see the fruit of the Spirit present in our life; this is evidence that the Holy Spirit is within us, working through us. Here’s a list of what living by the Spirit looks like:

• Love (unselfish concern for others; patience; kindness; does not envy or boast; not rude or self-seeking)
• Joy (true joy comes from knowing God, believing The Gospel, living right, walking in righteousness. To live in sin brings the opposite of joy: shame, sorrow, grief, and lack of assurance of salvation)
• Peace (an inner peace; a peace that only comes from knowing and living for Christ)
• Patience (knowing how patient God has been with you and exercising that same patience with others. Being patient during difficulty)
• Kindness (at the crossroads of hostility, anger, and irritation; you chose kindness)
• Goodness (continually choosing to do good, not evil; to do good unto others, not harm; to make others feel encouraged not disheartened)
• Faithfulness (to act faithfully and honorably in all situations; not hypocritical)
• Gentleness (not acting in a harsh or aggressive way toward another; but instead, being gentle, meek, and humble)
• Self-Control (ability to refrain from acting on impulses of the flesh, such as, sexual lusts, anger, jealousy, drunkenness, etc.)

Our conduct, if we claim to be a follower of Christ, must be that of personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage as empowered by the Holy Spirit.

John has very sobering words in 1John that also serve as a very powerful reminder that how we live maters. Inevitably, when you start talking about holiness there is someone close by that will give the counterattack, “that’s legalism”, “that’s works righteousness”, “you’re preaching sinless perfection”, “I’m saved by Grace!”.

Their argument is the Word of God as you will see from the texts below. The reality is, yes, of course we are saved by Grace through Faith, not by works. What we are talking about is a person’s “relationship” with sin. Are we striving for holiness, and confessing and forsaking sin when we stumble; or are we deliberately continuing in a certain sin (or more than one) that we refuse to turn from?

If I am being completely transparent; since I have been saved, I have been through seasons of disobedience. Some seasons longer than others. I am certainly not one to be lifted up as an example of righteousness by any means. But, by God’s Grace, He has NEVER allowed me rest in these seasons, His hand of conviction was heavy upon me. So, when I say there is no joy, no peace, no assurance in sin; unfortunately, I have experienced it too many times. If I am preaching sinless perfection, I condemn myself more than anyone else.

I am writing this post as a reminder to myself more than anyone else that we must WAR AGAINST THE FLESH!!! We must HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS!! This is not sinless perfection; this is evidence that I love Jesus and what He has done to save a wretch like me. I want to be holy because I love my King and He demands holiness from those who love Him.

1John 3:4-10 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

1Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Galatians 5:13-26 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.