“Past experiences of God do not automatically result in present-day faithfulness.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 22, 2026
So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 2 Peter 1:12, NIV
I’ve never trained in a gym for an extended season of life, but the handful of times I’ve gone, I’m always impressed by the handful of men lifting free weights in the corner. They are the “real” gym members, no offense to those of us on the treadmills and elliptical machines. These guys have submitted their bodies to a grueling training regimen for years, have bodies that are in tip-top shape, yet show no signs of letting up! On the one hand, this could be vanity at work, desperately longing to get even bigger and stronger than they already are. Yet, a more charitable read would simply be this: even though they are already strong, they know that if they neglect their training, that strength will soon begin to fade.
Throughout Scripture, you and I are told to treat our spiritual lives like a form of athletic training (e.g., 1 Timothy 4:7-8). And just like an athlete doesn’t simply know about weight lifting but has a body that is strengthened through training, we are not simply meant to know about the Lord, but are meant to be established in the truth through a living, abiding relationship with him. And here’s the key: just because you have a history of Christian faithfulness doesn’t mean you will be faithful today. Past experiences of God do not automatically result in present-day faithfulness. The attentiveness and care to spiritual training you once showed must be continually pursued, embraced in every season and stage. As Peter powerfully reminds his listeners, I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
We need to be reminded of what we already know, lest that knowledge become a distant memory rather than an abiding friendship with the Lord.
Prayer
Father, let us never convince ourselves that we’ve learned all we need to know about you, or have experienced all we can experience of your love, mercy, and grace. Keep us daily present to your Spirit at work within us and in the world around us, we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
What does daily faithfulness look like for you in this present season?
Related Reading
1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Titus 2:11-12; 2 Peter 1:5-7
Worship Resource
Chris Renzema: God Is Love
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