Remember the Lord Your God

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. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 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 forefathers, 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. Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 8:10-20)

Rev. Moses Lee preached on Deuteronomy chapter 8 today as we had our Chinese New Year Thanksgiving service in Jelutong Methodist Church. It was a reminder to all of us not to forget the Lord and his commands especially in times of prosperity and plenty. Why do we have to remember God? The passage tells us that:-

1. It was God who brought the Israelites out of slavery and provided for them in the wilderness. Similarly, it is God who brought us out of slavery from sin and provided for us in our times of trial.
2. It is not by our own hand that we have prospered, but it is God who gives us power and wealth.
3. If we forget God, then we will have to bear the consequences. God can take away our lives and our prosperity in a flash.

How then do we remember the Lord?

1. By being constantly grateful and thankful for what God has done for us.
2. By being humble and aware always that what we have is not due to our own greatness, but are gifts of grace from God.
3. By being obedient to God’s commands and will.