Repetition is good. And again I say, repetition is good.

(The following is a typical exchange at the Haney house)
Mom: "Dinner's ready!"
Dad/Kids: "**sound of crickets chirping outside**"
Mom: "I said...Dinner's ready!!"
Dad/Kids: "**still faint sound of crickets chirping**"
Mom (this time with feeling): "This is the LAST TIME I'm going to call you to dinner- get in here!!!"
Dad/Kids: "**the sound of small herd of elephants running toward the kitchen**"
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Paul used repetition in his teaching. We recently concluded a study at Liberty Worship Center on Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. It was only after we finished up the series that I realized Paul repeated himself quite a bit. We can usually count on Paul for some repetition. It's not uncommon for him to open a letter with a familiar greeting like "Grace and peace to you" or some equivalent. And we're also familiar with Paul bidding us farewell with a "grace to you" as well.

Paul took it a step further with the Thessalonians though. He touched on several important topics with them (persecution, holiness, brotherly love), but it seems he appealed to one topic over and over again- the second coming of Jesus Christ. I realize the chapter and verse divisions were not in the original autographs (they were added later) but the chapter divisions seem to come at appropriate places and times. Notice how Paul wraps up each chapter (even though not all of these are the exact final verses in each chapter, they seem to be concluding remarks in each one):

1Th 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1Th 2:19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?

1Th 3:13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This particular church (Thessalonica) was facing some tough times in the form of persecution. In the West, we really know nothing of the sort. But we have our own share of hard times, disappointments, faith trials, etc. I believe (among other things), Paul was helping them to keep a perspective. It's very easy to adopt a myopic view in the midst of difficult circumstances. I remember when I was 15 years old, and it seemed it would take a lifetime for me to turn 16 and actually obtain my driver's license. But now, it seems just yesterday that I was 16.

The Thessalonians needed to be reminded that their best days were ahead of them, not behind them. Maybe you need to hear that today as well. Christ is coming again- will you be ready? So the next time your pastor sounds like a broken record player- try to smile at that joke he's already told 20 times, and for sure pay heed to the things he shares from God's word. Paul wasn't afraid of a little repetition.

Until next time....

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