This year’s theme for 1N1W 22 is centered around Deuteronomy 4:9 (NIV )
(7)What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? (8) And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?(9)Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
Deuteronomy 4 is a call to remembrance and obedience, a remembrance of God, His ways and His deeds towards us. A charge towards obedience in what we are to do once we remind ourselves of who our God is and His ways.
As we gather together this year, an election year, our hearts are filled with uncertainty of what the months hold before and after the general elections in August. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 were difficult. But God is still calling us, just like the children of Israel to ‘remember’, to Remember Him.
Remember He hears
Remember His love
Remember His ways
Remember His mercy
Remember His promises
Remember His provision
Remember His goodness
Remember His faithfulness
Remember His works and deeds
Remember the Lord is Near
But for us to remember Him, we have to look back and see where we are coming from, where we have been and where we are going as individuals, a people and a nation.
Verse 9 in Deuteronomy 4 points us to our weakness. Even though we have seen great and awesome wonders from God; our eyes and hearts often forget who He is and who He continues to be. We therefore, must remind ourselves of what He has done for us and teach our children and their children to do so as well.
Our remembrance of God and His ways is not possible without acknowledging His majesty, splendor and glory. Praise and thanksgiving is our appropriate response as a nation and people to remember.
The core of our remembrance is to be guided by worship:
Come and see what God has done; his awesome deeds for mankind. Psalms 66:5
Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me Psalms 66:16
As we remember we are in a position to recount and teach our children and their children of the many ways the Lord has come through for us. We are also in a position to remind generations to
come of His glory.
As God shifts us into a new season as a church, a nation, and as a people. He is asking us not to forget Him and His ways because HE IS ALWAYS WITH US.
REMEMBER!