SCRIPTURE: DEUTERONOMY 8
BIBLE VERSES:
“Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors.” (Deuteronomy 8:1)
“Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.” (Deuteronomy 8:6)
“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ” (Deuteronomy 8:10-14)
“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. If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.” (Deuteronomy 8:18-19)
DO NOT FORGET THE LORD (vs. 1-20)
- Be careful to follow every command of the Lord. (v. 1)
- Remember how the Lord led you all the way in the desert for 40 years to humble you andtest your heart. (v. 2)
- That God feed you with manna. (v. 3)
- That your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during those 40 years. (v. 4)
- Know that as a man disciplines his son, the Lord also disciplines you. (v. 5)
- Observe the command of the Lord, walk in His way and revere Him. (v. 6)
- Praise the Lord when you are satisfied. (v.10)
- Be careful not to forget the Lord, failing to observe his commands, laws and decrees. (v. 11)
- Do not become proud when you are prosperous (v. 12)
- God bought you out of Egypt out from the land of slavery (v. 14)
- He led you through the dreadful desert, the waterless land with venomous snakes and scorpions and gave you water out of hard rock. (v. 15)
- Remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the ability to produce wealth. (v. 18)
- You will surely be destroyed if you follow other gods and worship or bow down to them. (v. 19)
THOUGHTS:
Forgetfulness is one of the “scheme” of the devil to lead us into sin. The people of Israel forgot the 40 years of God’s care by providing them food to eat, clothes to wear. This is also true with us. We often forget the many blessings that God had given us in the past. When we become self-sufficient, we become proud and think that it is through our strength and ability that we have all these accomplishments. But remember, it is God who gives us the power to get wealth. He is the one in control of the wealth of this world.