Repetition

"Repetition," it has been said, "is the mother of learning."  Actually, what was said was: repetitio est mater studiorum (Latin: repetition is the mother of learning).  At any rate, the truth is that the best way to remember is to make repetitions of the learned material, even in slightly different and/or enhanced ways.

 

See if you can spot what God is trying to communicate through the following texts:

 

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

Judges 17:6 

 

In those days Israel had no king.

Judges 18:1

 

In those days Israel had no king.

Judges 19:1

 

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

Judges 21:25

 

That's right.  Where there is no law, people gravitate to following their own desires.  Left unchecked, this can lead to a very bad situation.  Consider Proverbs 29:18:

 

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.

 

Notice the subtlety of the message of this proverb.  While it is true that when people do not follow the Word (and therefore the will) of God, they seek their own desires, it is equally true that those who do follow the Word (and therefore the will) of God are blessed because of it.

 

How many times does Jesus have to teach His people this simple lesson:

 

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:4 - 5

 

Brethren... remain in Him.