I’ve been telling my stories to my daughter in the car when we are driving. Driving back from choir practice in the dark, I told her what it felt like when my parents got divorced (surprising and confusing). Driving to cross country practice, I told her about my first date with her papa (I thought it was a first date, he thought it was a last date). She won’t know my stories if I don’t tell her, and she can’t learn from the stories of her heritage if she doesn’t know them. The stories die with me if I don’t tell them.
God knows we are people who need stories to remember our history. Knowledge of our history is vital, but we won’t remember it unless we speak it regularly to each other and to our children. “Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds” (Deuteronomy 11:18). The remembrance of God’s character and works is the foundation of obedience. Without remembrance, we are adrift in a world without answers.
Our duty to remember is rooted in love. First, God’s commands are rooted in His love for us. He made us in love and purchased us back from sin in love so that we might be His children. On this foundation, we strive toward obedience (Deuteronomy 11:1). John writes, “This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands” (1 John 5:2).
Second, love, remembrance, and obedience are inseparable. God calls us to generational remembrance of His works (Deuteronomy 11:2). We have received the stories of those who came before, and our children cannot know what they have not seen, unless they are told. This is a serious and lifelong undertaking. We are to imprint God’s Word and works on our hearts and minds, so that we never forget (Deuteronomy 11:18-21).
Third, the fruit of remembrance is obedience and blessing. God tells the Israelites if they remember and keep His commands, they will have strength, long life, and blessing (Deuteronomy 11:8-9). Remembrance produces obedience. Obedience produces strength. Strength leads to victory and blessing in Him.
This victory and blessing are rooted in God’s promises, in God’s own righteousness. It is God Himself who drives out our enemies. It is in His strength that we are strong. His hand is at work from start to finish. He offers us the inheritance of blessing in Christ alone. This is the best blessing we can offer to others: teaching them to remember their Creator.
We live in a generation of forgetfulness, that often scoffs at obedience, and makes light of faithfulness. It is for this reason that we also too often find ourselves in a generation of weakness and cowardice, adrift. If we would see our children and our spiritual communities prosper, we must know and remember the Word and the works of God.
Today is more reminders and warnings from Moses! How grateful are we to have such reminders? Deuteronomy 11:7-12 reminds me that my salvation is not because of MY works but because of HIS – just like the land is not flowing with milk and honey because of the Israelites labor but because of His blessings.
Then I am reminded of Eden when I read Deuteronomy 11:13-17- this perfect place we’re we will all be satisfied but TAKE WARNING- because even Adam and Eve strayed!! It is so hard to stay obedient (even in perfect Eden) BUT GOD gave us His word to REMIND us to stay on the narrow path and LOVE!!! Wishing everyone a happy Tuesday!!
I think we need to remember though that while obedience does bring blessing, that doesn’t mean that we are entitled to live a life free from suffering. Just a thought as I read the devotion today. I think often, at least in the American church, we have this sense that because we have obeyed that we will never suffer and that’s not true.
Today is more reminders and warnings from Moses! How grateful are we to have such reminders? Deuteronomy 11:7-12 reminds me that my salvation is not because of MY works but because of HIS – just like the land is not flowing with milk and honey because of the Israelites labor but because of His blessings. Then I am reminded of Eden when I read Deuteronomy 11:13-17- this perfect place we’re we will all be satisfied
Dear Sisters, I was so blessed to see all the prayers going up for me and my granddaughters. Thank you all. Today’s message on remembering and the strength it brings, so true as I remember the ways He has provided it strengthens me in that I know nothing is impossible for our God. Lara Castillo, thank you I will look for the Daily Audio Bible Kids. I keep thinking there has to be things like this our youth so need to understand His love. Traci Gendron, thank you for sharing and your prayers. You are awesome! Mari V thank you for taking the time to pray as you were rushing in to work. Melanie, glad to hear your good news, praying for you, rest and quick healing. Wendy, thank you, yes so many young women and girls needing prayers, such a confusing rough world. Especially praying for the women and girls in Afghanistan. God’s protection. Searching, and Victoria E thank you so much. Pamela Aileen, praying for you and your family to see in you His grace, joy and love in Jesus. Dear ERB, I have heard of YWAM, would love to know more, Thank you my friend. May our God who does abundantly more than we ask bless you all this day with His peace. LOVE you all.
Phoebe!!! This has helped me so much. I thought I was alone in that kind of thinking. I sometimes would beat myself up and feel like I was only doing something because I was trying to get something from God which would then stop me in my tracks of doing what I know he told me to do in the first place. Such a distorted way of thinking that the enemy tries to confuse us with.
(mostly in response to yesterday.)
THANKS!
SARAHJOY – “Our mission field is right in front of our two feet.” – Jill Briscoe
CINDY HANNA – definitely thought-provoking, practical and moved me “Don’t trip on what is behind you.”
(And I love SEARCHING’s take on it.)
MAURA, thank you for sharing all this with us! I will continue to pray for you. We will understand if you don’t comment as often but, please don’t disappear…it won’t be the same without you!
MELANIE, and JANE K – praying for all.
CHANGED LIFE, still praying and here to support you whether you share or not.
(today)
PAMELA AILEEN, what you wrote is so powerful and really resonates… praying for what is before you!
KELLY’s comment to ARINA – Amen! I too need to trust the Lord to water and nurture for the times I have actually been faithful to plant seeds.
PHOEBE, that is so bang on! I have felt the same…not so much “selfish” as “manipulative” but you are right…GREAT!
How lovely is it that God took care of the land FOR THEM!! Lord Jesus, when You do this in my life, please don’t let me use the effort and time you have spared me in a wasteful manner. ❤️
[As an aside, I’d love to get into the car with REBECCA FAIRES and hear about the various perspectives of their first date…seems like it would be a great story :)]
“And his commands are not a burden…” 1 John . I wasn’t raised in a Christian home. The culture around me taught (and I believed) that the commands of God were oppressive and hateful. BUT GOD… I am so grateful that He has shown me how his commands are a gift that they lead to a relationship with Him and an abundant life! Thank you, Lord, for forgiving a sinner like me!
REMEMBER. Thankful for the repetition throughout this study. I need this reminder! REMEMBER Kath! How easy it is to forget and be distracted with life But God has been so good to me, to our family. Tonight we will have a family dinner to celebrate my daughter’s birthday and I will ask family to remember, to share stories of God’s goodness. And repeating some of the same ones? Obviously a great idea as Deuteronomy seems to be just that! The reading today made me think of this song, I love it as it helps me remember, trust and continue to obey. The Goodness of God. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n0FBb6hnwTo