21 February | EVERYONE
«Then [do not] say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.» Deuteronomy 8: 17,18
To forget is to die slowly, to go away little by little, to get lost on a long road covered in fog. A life without memories is like an album without photographs, without life and without history. We are all in danger of forgetting what God did for us in the past. To harbor the idea that the good we have is basically the fruit of our effort.
Israel was no different. Therefore, before entering the promised land, the Lord warned them: “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God […] lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage” (Deut. 8:11-14).
The challenge for the Israelites was to remember that all the good they possessed was not the result of their effort, but of God’s wondrous grace. Unfortunately, they fell into the filthy pit of ingratitude. They forgot about the Creator, believing that the blessings they enjoyed would last forever. That is a big mistake! Years later, the Babylonians would come, destroy what God had given them, and take their captive children to a strange land.
Only the lesson learned remains from the past. God is the Creator. Our life belongs entirely to him. He lent it to us. We are stewards of the life that belongs to him and one day we will have to give an account of what we did with what he entrusted to us. Therefore, remember your God, from whom flow the power, riches, and blessings you enjoy.
Take Action
Think about all that God gives you, but do not be superficial in doing it. Consider that the accomplishments you attribute to yourself would not be possible without the talents, health, and life that He endowed to you. Sing “Who Gives You Power” (if possible, with your family).