I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
Summary: Peter understands how our minds work. He wants to make certain that we keep God’s will first and foremost in our minds all the time.
What comes to mind when you read the word “stimulate”? Do you picture someone standing nearby with an electric cattle prod? That is how farmers “stimulate” stubborn livestock to get moving.
What do you think of when you read the words “wholesome thinking”? … Yeah. Me, too. The words seem bland. They do not convey a specific meaning. I am not sure what the translators of the NIV were going for here. The King James Version translates this passage verbatim. Their translation reads, “I now write unto you; in both [letters] which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.”
I like the imagery that the KJV conveys. It is like a snow globe that you see at Christmastime. When you first see it sitting on the shelf, the water inside is clear. Pick it up and shake it, and the water is stirred up. Along with the stirring, the bits of glitter that had settled to the bottom are stirred up. Suddenly, all the “snow” that was at rest is now active. It floats around and around where it can be seen.
Peter wants to do the same things in our minds. The KJV tells us Peter knows the believer has a “pure mind.”
Wow.
Is that true? Are our minds pure, like the water in a snow globe?
I confess that there are still bits of crud floating around in my mind, but when I look back on my life, I see God has been at work cleaning up my thoughts. That is the way he works. The believers I know are all like that. All our minds are being made pure by the Holy Spirit.
Now, Peter comes along and wants to stir things up? Yes! The good things!
It is easy for important thoughts to settle to the bottom of our conscious minds. While there, they are out of sight. Peter has written his letters to stir up our memories of these important points. What does he want us to remember?
“…add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)
He also wants us to watch out for false teachers.
If we read Peter’s letter and really listen to what he is saying, he stirs up these important truths in our minds. They swirl through our thoughts and become what we think about. If we think about them enough, we become what we think about. What does Jesus say?
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7: 7-8)
We have to keep our goal before us. We have to meditate on God’s Word. Peter has done us a great favor by reminding us of what is important. We do well if we read his letters often.
Application: Re-read Peter’s letters in the New Testament. Make notes and think about them.
Food for Thought: How does God help us when painful memories are stirred up?
I think God helps us in many ways when painful thoughts are brought to the surface. One specific way is through His truth overcoming our memories. When the enemy accuses us (Rev. 12: 10), the truth of His righteousness making us pure needs to be believed over the enemies accusations (Rev 12: 11).
And both the Holy Spirit and the truth of His word remind us that we are His. This truth can even overcome bad memories that are stirred (1 John 3: 20; Galatians 4: 6).
Thank you, Rich.
Great verses!!
12-01-2021, 2 Peter 3:1b, How does God help us when painful memories are stirred up?
God allows us to recall bad, blocked, painful memories to help us grow regarding the painful consequences of sin, to help us see areas we need to surrender to Him so we can help others who suffer from the same weaknesses we have experienced throughout our lives.
Gods word tells us He did not send His Son to Judge us, but to save us from our sins, and part of this process is to know what they are so we can let go of all that separates us from a loving, strong, ongoing relationship with our Holy God.
John 3:17, 2 Corinthians 12:7, Isiah 61:1, Psalm 147:3,
Something significant that takes place when we allow God to minister to us in these moments. We receive God’s comfort as we move thru each event. We experience spiritual strength through His redeeming power as all traces of a specific issue are replaced by the power of the Holy Spirit and the presence of Jesus Christ grows in our hearts.
I can remember times on my knees in tears, after seeing the total depravity of my revealed sins, my unworthiness as a servant of God, the certainty of my going to hell. And feeling His arm over my shoulder as I heard His words in my heart, “ That’s ok Ron, I have always known who you are, it’s important you know.”
Ron,
Well said! I deeply appreciate the stories you have shared of Jesus comforting you in times of deep anguish. They encourage me greatly.
How does God help us when painful memories are stirred up?
As humans we tend to repress, deny, project, and ignore the hurts in our life, or even worse, dwell on them until we can’t stand it anymore. I like 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” God has given us the gift to take our thoughts captive. We can ask forgiveness and be assured we are forgiven. We can ask for understanding, and measure what we understand against His Word. he is really doing the heavy lifting for us, we just need to give Him our attention. Tell Him how we feel, and how it things affect us. It is far better and more affective than trying to go it alone.
Chris,
Thank you for pointing out that taking our thoughts “captive” is a gift from God. That helps me appreciate His work in my life.