August 29, 2023

Deuteronomy 6:10-25 (HCSB)
Remembering God through Obedience
10 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would give you—a land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build, 11 houses full of every good thing that you did not fill them with, wells dug that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 13 Fear Yahweh your God, worship Him, and take your oaths in His name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you, 15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God. Otherwise, the Lord your God will become angry with you and wipe you off the face of the earth. 16 Do not test the Lord your God as you tested Him at Massah. 17 Carefully observe the commands of the Lord your God, the decrees and statutes He has commanded you. 18 Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that you may prosper and so that you may enter and possess the good land the Lord your God swore to give your fathers, 19 by driving out all your enemies before you, as the Lord has said. 20 “When your son asks you in the future, ‘What is the meaning of the decrees, statutes, and ordinances, which the Lord our God has commanded you?’ 21 tell him, ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand. 22 Before our eyes the Lord inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his household, 23 but He brought us from there in order to lead us in and give us the land that He swore to our fathers. 24 The Lord commanded us to follow all these statutes and to fear the Lord our God for our prosperity always and for our preservation, as it is today. 25 Righteousness will be ours if we are careful to follow every one of these commands before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us. The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009)

TW Mitchell
On my desk are pictures of my grandmothers who daily demonstrated genuine loyalty to the Lord and to their families. There was nothing about them that qualified either for stardom or fame. As Moses instructed the Hebrews before entering the Promised Land, it was very clear to stay loyal to ADONAI. Being loyal to God is more than saying a pledge or attending church services. It requires work and diligence. This passage reminds us 1) He brings opportunities, 2) He remembers and fulfills His promises to prosper, 3) to not forget Him who brought us from despair, 4) to fear Him, 5) to serve Him and forsake idols, 6) don’t put Him to the test and 7) give Him all glory. God isn’t looking for shining stars. He’s looking for back hall lights that keep shining day after day, year after year. Many who have gone before us left light that shines brightly today. May our influence and loyalty to God continue shining for generations yet to come.