Music recording by Ben Doggett. From Come Thou Long Expected Jesus by Charles Wesley, 1744. View the Lyrics. Narration by Aimee Riegert.

Devotional by Thomas Tarrants.

Image: The ruins of Capernaum on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee include the remains of a home that was used as a first-century gathering place for Christians. Archaeologists think the site may have been the home of the Apostle Peter described in the New Testament.

For almost all of us, memory fades over time and needs to be refreshed if it is to be retained. As Samuel Johnson observed: “It is not sufficiently considered that men more frequently require to be reminded than informed.” When the memory in question is about biblical truths, being reminded is especially important. Peter (and Paul, Philippians 3:1) knew this well and saw great value in reminding God’s people of truths they had previously taught them.

In chapter 3 of 2 Peter, the apostle is eager to remind his beloved friends of the predictions of the prophets and of their Lord and Savior. He calls them to remember what they had been taught. His eagerness grows out of the danger they are facing from false teachers who are challenging the promise of Christ’s second coming. Fortunately, his hearers have sincere minds, which is essential for grasping and retaining truth. And he is appealing to their minds not their emotions.

Peter’s approach here teaches us a very important lesson for today: go back to the original Holy Spirit-inspired sources, the prophets and apostles, “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20–21).

How do we respond to contemporary challenges to Christ’s second coming, or His first coming, or His resurrection—or any number of other issues? Start with a sincere mind and a desire for truth. Then seek to remember what we have learned in the past. Then search the Scriptures for more light. This isn’t the only thing we can do, but it is the first thing.