Thoughts for the Day

Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid waste-land with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock, and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and the might of my own hand have gained me this wealth.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today. If you do forget the Lord your God and follow other gods to serve and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. Like the nations that the Lord is destroying before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

What relevance do the words of Moses, who lived over three thousand years ago, have for us today? Well they have much to teach us. He has been preaching to the people before they cross over the river Jordan into Canaan, and warning them to continue to obey God's commands for there will be plenty of temptations that will seek to pull them away from God.

This year we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war in Europe. For those who returned to their countries to rebuild the towns and cities it was a time of change. The majority have prospered: bombed out houses were rebuilt; outside toilets have gone (though I remember one in a relative's house in 1950 in Charlton, London); our homes are full of electrical gadgets; and we think ourselves unlucky if we can't afford a holiday.

During the same time, though, church attendance has seen a rapid decline. The need to remember God was periodically reignited when calamity struck, as with the Cuban crisis in the 60s and the world held its breath for six days as it looked as though a nuclear war would occur, or during the pandemic when life equally seemed very fragile. Then people turned to God, even if only to moan at Him.

Moses warns us that when we think we have achieved success by ourselves we are deluded, for it is God who has given us the power and ability to achieve what we have, and it is He who should receive our praise and thanks.

Lord God,
Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives,
thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over us.
Thank you that you are able to bring hope through even the toughest of times,
strengthening us for your purposes.
Thank you for your great love and care.
Thank you for your mercy and grace.
Thank you that you are always with us and will never leave us.
Thank you for your incredible sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life.
Forgive us for when we don't thank you enough for what you've given us.
Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh.
Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy.
We love you and we need you, this day and every day.
We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy!
In Jesus' Name.
Amen.

(By Debbie McDaniel)