Jessica Albritton, Family Connections Minister LHBC

Deuteronomy 6:20-25

20 “When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. 23 And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. 24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. 25 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’

I love the movie Finding Nemo. One of my favorite characters from the movie is Dory. Dory is a true comic relief and cannot remember anything. Throughout the movie she would meet someone new and introduce herself. The problem is that three seconds into the conversation she would forget and introduce herself again. When Dory needed to remember something important though she would repeat it over and over so it was ingrained in her mind. One of the things she remembered best was the address “P Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sydney.” She would go around repeating it over and over and over. Sometimes I have Dory moments myself and forget things, and just like Dory, I have found useful methods over the years to help me where my memory fails. If there is an event or meeting, big or small, it goes in the google calendar, I have post-it notes scattered all across my office, and sometimes I will text myself to-dos if I am away from pen and paper. If I don’t write it down it’s as good as lost, so my color coded shorthand notes help me to keep it all straight.

The Israelites were a lot like that, suffering from a memory problem. Some of the most faithful followers of the Lord would get caught up in the world and all the trials life threw them. When this happened they would in turn forget all the Lord had done for them in their most vulnerable of times. For that reason the Israelites were instructed to erect statues and memorials, bind their reminders on their wrists, mark them on their foreheads, so that they would not forget all that the Lord had done. We all need reminders because as humans we are prone to forget, or worse, remember things the way we want to remember them. God has, and always will be, faithful. Our recollection of Him does not determine His character but it does affect our response to Him. If we can’t remember all of His goodness and faithfulness we most certainly will not respond to Him in obedience. 

It was at times where the Israelites forgot that we see them grumbling in the wilderness, turning to false idols, and falling into the trappings of sinfulness. But it was when they remembered that they were able to turn from their wickedness and come back in submission to God. What are you remembering today? Are you remembering God’s faithfulness or are you forgetting all that He has done? Take some time today to jot down all the ways the Lord has proved His faithfulness and repeat them over and over and over until they are impressed upon your heart too! 

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, You are so faithful! You have proven yourself over and over again. Help me to remember your goodness when distractions come to steer me away from you. In Jesus name, amen!

MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK:

James 1:12- 12 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him