A Safeguard For Your Souls, Philippians 3:1
"Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you."
Repeat Bible studies. We've all experienced them. We go to church, or to a home study, or read for ourselves, and we get the same message, the same sermon, and the same ideas laid out for us again and again. Though this may seem to be dull and boring, and just downright pointless, is it really?
Paul shows us in Philippians 3:1 that to be repeatative is not pointless, but a safeguard to us. To be told the same thing over and over builds up our confidence in what we believe, not to mention that the more we hear something the better we remember it. The Lord knows this, and so He will repeat a lesson or a teaching or a message as many times as needed to help us to be confident and sure of the truths of His word, and to remember them so that we may teach others the same message.
As we go through our daily lives, we get tired of the dull routine of things and naturally we crave new, exciting, seemingly better things. But new is not always better when it comes to the working of the Spirit.
We have to stop and ask ourselves why we are craving something new. Is it because we have fully grasped all the Lord has placed before us and are hungry for more? Or is it because the Lord is trying to cleanse us and purify us from something displeasing to Him and harmful to us, and it's making us a little uncomfortable? Are we under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and instead of submitting and repenting, are we running away in the opposite direction?
Jonah, a prophet of God from Old Testament times, was called of God to go preach to the people of Ninevah concerning God's impending judgement due to the people's exceeding wickedness. But Jonah didn't want to go, because he didn't want the Lord to show mercy to the Ninevites should they repent of their sin. So he ran in the other direction, down to Tarshish.
Honestly, Jonah didn't have any interest in Tarshish as a vacation spot or a hot spot for ministry. He went there simply because it was as far away as he could get from Ninevah. And so too, we must question our motives: Are we desiring something new and different because it's what we really want and believe the Lord is calling us toward? Or is it because it's something completely different from that thing which is nagging at our hearts, that which God is calling us to do? Are we running away with eyes closed, fingers in ears, yelling "I can't hear You!"?
Though this may seem to work for a little while, just as while Jonah was sure of his escape to Tarshish and God caused a raging storm to stop him in his tracks, God will throw a storm into our lives to grab our attention and wake us up. In essence, He will put His foot out and trip us as we are running away, eyes closed, fingers in ears, yelling "I can't hear You!". He wants to stop us from running and get our attention, and redirect us toward the right path. In Jonah's case, He sent a storm, and the people of the ship eventually tossed Jonah overboard to avert the wrath of God. He ended up in the belly of a whale, and was spit up on the shore of... You guessed it, Ninevah!
We can run all we want, but we won't get anywhere. When we give our lives to God, when we give Him our hearts and devote our lives to living for Him and His purposes, He takes us up on the offer! He is going to work in our lives, He is going to mold us and shape us into His likeness. It may not be pleasant at times as He trims away at the excess of our hearts, but it will make us better people, better suited for His eternal plans and purposes. And His purposes are good! He has promised us, in Jeremiah 29:11,
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
So we have nothing to worry about, we are safe in God's loving, merciful, and kind hands. He may repeat lessons, but it's for our own eternal good! So if you find that you seem to be getting "duplicates" in sermons, Bible studies, or devotions... Take note! He may be trying to show you something!