How often do you need to be reminded of something you heard? Are you gifted to remember everything you hear? Or do you need to be reminded from time-to-time? Can you remember the history lessons you learned in school? Can you remember what your spouse told you yesterday?
Our memories are often good when we are young but are less dependable as we grow older. It may be due to the aging process, but I somethings wonder if it is not the sheer volume of things we have stored in our brains. Regardless, we need to be reminded of things.
The Apostle Paul is reminding the members of the church in Corinth of the good news he had proclaimed to them. He reminds them that Jesus died for their sins. He was raised on the third day. That Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfilled the prophecy in Scripture. He also reminds them that Jesus appeared to the apostles after He rose from the dead.
Why is Paul reminding them of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection? Perhaps they had gotten wrapped up in unimportant trivial debates or arguments. If so, this message applies to us today. I often witnessed members of churches getting wrapped up in ancillary topics, even creating division over them. They have forgotten that Jesus should be our main focus.
Churches have divided and split over how to serve communion, who can become members, who is leading the church, who the church hires for staff positions, and even who the pastor is. They forgot that Jesus is the head of the church. They forgot they all are sinners and need His forgiving grace and mercy. They forgot that every member’s purpose is to serve Him.
I pray we all are reminded regularly of the good news of Jesus. I pray we make Jesus our main focus. I pray each one of us remember our purpose is to serve Jesus by the grace He has given us. Remember the good news. Make Jesus your focus. Serve Jesus. Live in His grace.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.
Marty Pressey 