Monday, June 27, 2022

             Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible and the last of the five books that are traditionally ascribed to the collection called “the books of Moses.”  The name Deuteronomy means “second law” and the law that God had given to Moses was expounded and proclaimed before the people would enter the land God had promised to them.  One of the key words we discover in Deuteronomy is the word “remember.”  The people were challenged to remember the LORD, His Word and His ways.  They were to remember what the LORD had done for them and how He had led them to the edge of the land that would be their lasting home.  In Deuteronomy 8, we read, “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands” (8:2).  A bit later, in the same chapter, we read, “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today” (8:8).
            These two verses call us to the word remember.  As believers, memory should be important to us.  Just as a family cherishes vacation or Christmas memories, we are to cherish our faith memories and stories too.  We are to remember the LORD and His ways.  We are to remember His blessings and provisions.  We are to remember that God gives us abilities, blessings, creativity and gifts with which we can serve Him and others around us.  When we remember all that God has done and given, we are motivated to walk with Him and to stay with Him in faith and trust.  As the word “remember” is used in Deuteronomy, the people are called to remember historic and significant acts that God performed on behalf of His people and to reveal His glory.  The lesson for us is to remember that the LORD is the God of history.  He works and acts in real ways, real situations and real people.
            One good exercise is to set aside time each day to recall where you have seen, heard or experienced God at work.  What has He done?  When we are looking and listening for the LORD, we are much more likely to see and experience Him.  Frankly, most of us have so many blessings that it is easy to lose sight of the Lord God and to think that we have won or gained these blessings by ourselves in our own strength.  God made it clear to Israel that remembering Him and keeping His ways would be to their credit and benefit.  We read, “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess” (Deuteronomy 30:15-16).  We are not to take lightly the importance of knowing the LORD and walking in His ways.  We are to live as different people and to live in distinct ways that bear witness to the Lord that we claim we know and serve.
            Today, remember what the LORD has done for you and given to you.  Remember where He has led and guided you.  See His faithfulness and fingerprints in your life over the span of months, years and even decades.  The more that we see what God has done, the more that we wish to walk with Him and to worship Him.  Pray for our sports camp this week and our mission trip to Alaska!  This week is a big one in the life of our church and pray that we leave others with wonderful memories of the LORD and His grace.  Remember you can always share our worship at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.  Have a great Monday!