“DON’T FORGET”
(Deuteronomy 4:1 – 8:20)
And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. – Deuteronomy 6:10-12
It is approximately 500 years from the covenant God made with Abraham until now, in Deuteronomy, when God is fulfilling that promise – the Israelites are about to enter Canaan. In today’s reading, God is giving instruction to prepare them for what lies ahead. In these particular verses, we see that prosperity can be just as dangerous as hardship, maybe more so, in leading us to self-sufficiency apart from God and forgetting His hand in our lives and blessings that come from Him.
In the years to come, Israel failed to heed this warning and lived generation after generation in a cycle of obedience-prosperity-backsliding-chastisement-repentance-restoration. God’s blessings, forgotten and misunderstood, led to their downfall.
How do we protect ourselves from this danger? Moses offered three ways for the people to remember God (v. 13):
1. Fear the Lord only.
This will provoke us to holy living.
2. Worship (serve) God.
This would be a way of remembrance.
3. Swear by His name.
Keeping God’s name before them as supreme rather than the many gods that were worshiped around them.
Pray for…
- A heart of thanksgiving for God’s blessings and faithfulness in your life.
- Awareness in times of prosperity and seasons of abundance keeping mindful of His provisions.
- God to guard your heart against pride and self-sufficiency, being reminded that every good gift comes from your Father above.
About our Author
John A Pra was born and raised in Queens, NY and has lived almost all of his life in the metropolitan area. After graduating from Bible college (now University of Valley Forge) he entered into full-time pastoral ministry. John and his wife, Diana, have been living in Carlstadt since 1990, pastoring Cornerstone Church and now at Transformation Life Church since 2022.
John and Diana have been married for 39 years and have three children and one granddaughter (who owns them). Besides loving time spent with family, he enjoys sports, reading, travel, and the golf course.
READ MORE
December 24 – Reading 358
DECEMBER 24 - Reading 358by Albert Rosado | December 24“BOLDLY ENDURING HARDSHIP FOR THE GOSPEL”(2 Timothy 1:1 - 4:22) "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God," – 2...
21 Days of Prayer – Promo
by Rev James M. Armpriester, Jr Starting January 5th If you feel like you’re repeating the same resolutions every new year, you’re not failing. You’re just trying to change behavior without changing what’s forming you. Most of us don’t need stronger willpower. We need...
December 23 – Reading 357
DECEMBER 23 - Reading 357by Albert Rosado | December 23“THE FINAL HOUR”(1 Peter 1:1 - 5:14) "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers." – 1 Peter 4:7 The Christians Peter was writing to were...