Worship as Remembrance

I need to be constantly reminded that I am forgetful.  And therefore, it is important to build constant reminders into my life.  Things that I pass by every day, technology that repeats reminders and beeps at me, and habits and patterns that remind me to be faithful.  God certainly understands this about us.  He asked people to set up altars and monuments to commemorate what He had done.  He instituted yearly festivals like passover to remind His people of His goodness and provision.  And Jesus set us on a pattern of remembrance with the Last Supper.

As I was reading through Deuteronomy 8 recently I was again reminded of our forgetfulness.  All 20 verses serve as a warning and reminder to the people.  You should read it, but for the sake of conversation, let me summarize.  God tells his people to be careful to obey his commands.  He reminds them who He is and what he has done for his people.  And He warns them that when they inherit the land and become rich, eating whatever they want and living in houses that are nice, they will have a tendency to forget who gets the credit, who gave it to them in the first place.  And if they forget?  Destruction will come.

When you read the entire chapter, I wonder if you will see the same parallel that I see.  To me, it sounds like America.  It sounds like us.  It sounds like me.  We live a pretty good life, and that good life numbs us to God.  We forget that He gives us the ability to be productive.  We tend to look at our own hands for the provision placed before us.  And we are in danger.  We are in danger of destruction through our own forgetfulness and pride.  And people who call themselves Christians are not immune.

So set up patterns of remembrance.  Make worship and spiritual disciplines a priority.  Don't schedule things on Sunday Mornings.  Read God's Word every day.  It's as easy and this:  Remember God by obeying Him.  It's also how we show our love for Him.

Now if I could just remember where I put my keys.

Humbly,

Dave