Readings for today: Deuteronomy 24-27, Psalms 61
I have often wondered how much would change if every single Christian would simply remember who they once were. Dead in our sin. Lost and without hope. Living in the deepest darkness imaginable. Blind. Deaf. Our hearts hardened to the will of God. Enslaved by the enemy. We had nothing and yet God gave us everything. We were worthless and yet God declared us worthy. We were ugly and broken and yet God saw beauty and made us whole. We were rebellious and God showed us grace. We were resistant and God embraced us. We were at war with God and still He made peace. God delivered us. God rescued us. God showed mercy on us. God loved us when we were at our most unlovable. Imagine if we could began each day reminding ourselves how far we’ve come? How far God has brought us? Imagine if we would approach every conversation and every interaction and every relationship with godly humility, knowing each moment we’ve been given in this life is far more than we deserve? Wouldn’t that change things? Now multiply that by the number of Christians around the world. Almost three billion by last count. Don’t you think it would have a global impact?
This is why I love reading through these sections of Deuteronomy. Though the laws are often confusing to me as a 21st century Christian, the rationale behind them is not. “Remember that you were a slave in Egypt…” Remember your hopeless and helpless condition. Remember how poor and powerless you once were before I saved you. Let your memory of those days humble you as you enter the Promised Land. Let it stir in your heart a deep compassion for those who are less fortunate. The widow. The orphan. The poor. The foreigner. May you treat them with the same grace and mercy with which I treated you. May you love them the way I loved you. May you provide for them just as I have provided for you. It’s why Moses challenges the people of God to rehearse their “origin story” over and over again…“You are to respond by saying in the presence of the Lord your God: My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt with a few people and resided there as an alien. There he became a great, powerful, and populous nation. But the Egyptians mistreated and oppressed us, and forced us to do hard labor. So we called out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our cry and saw our misery, hardship, and oppression. Then the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, with terrifying power, and with signs and wonders. He led us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. I have now brought the first of the land’s produce that you, Lord, have given me.” (Deuteronomy 26:5-10 CSB)
What’s your origin story? How did you first come to saving faith? Have you ever taken time to step back and reflect on all the blessings God has given you in your life that you had nothing to do with? Did nothing to earn? Where you were born? The opportunities that came your way? The resources you had access to? Do you remember when you first became aware of God’s saving grace? First embraced His unconditional love? Do you understand the depths of your “lostness” without Jesus Christ? Do you see your sin as serious enough to put Him on a cross? Only as we come to grips with the utter poverty of our sinful condition can we appreciate the glory and joy and delight in all God has done for us. And as we experience all the blessings of God’s presence in our lives, we are then called to extend that same blessing out to others.
Readings for tomorrow: Deuteronomy 28-29, Psalms 62