“But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”—Deuteronomy 8:18
God instructed His people to remember Him when they came into the land of blessing. They were to:
1. Remember the Lord’s Promise
God promised them in verse one that if they would obey all His commandments that He would give them life and blessing. In verses 19 and 20, God warns them that disobedience would cause them to perish.
God also promised His people in Deuteronomy 9:1–3 that He would go before them and prove to be greater than their greatest enemies.
Do you truly believe that God will bless your life and give you victory in the face of great odds if you simply trust Him and do what He says? Do you believe that God can do more that matters with your life than you can?
Remember the Lord’s promise of blessing for obedience when making decisions about your future. Do not leave Him out of the equation of your life when deciding which path you will take. True success in life is a byproduct of obedience to His Word (Joshua 1:8).
2. Remember the Lord’s Purpose
Verses 2–10 teach us that God humbles and proves us through the trials of life to show us our need for Him, His Word, and His keeping power and provision.
No one can sin successfully. God loves us so much that He works through the consequences of our sin to bring us to Himself. He disciplines us to teach us.
What is God teaching you about Him, yourself, life, etc. through your present difficulties?
Remember the Lord’s purpose in your pain. Do not leave God out of the equation of your life when things go wrong. Let God empty you of self-will and fill you with His fullness by looking beyond your heartaches and seeing His hand at work in your life.
3. Remember the Lord’s Power
We read in verses 11–18 of how God brought His people through the wilderness and the land of promise He was taking them to. They would work hard in the promised land and the profit of their labor would be evident.
God instructed them to remember that the power, ability, opportunity, and strength they had to accumulate material possessions came from Him. He was the Source of their substance, and they were not to get so caught up in their blessings that they forgot their Blesser.
Remember the Lord’s power when you begin to be rewarded for your work. Do not leave God out of the equation of your life by thinking that, “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this [education, job, family, house, vehicle, money, etc.].” Be grateful. Be humble. Honour the God who has blessed you so with your time, talent, and treasure.
May we ever remember the One who will never forget us.
