Date: 03-13-2021

Title: A Reminder

(S) cripture:
    Deuteronomy 5:1-22 (NLT2) Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, “Listen carefully, Israel. Hear the decrees and regulations I am giving you today, so you may learn them and obey them! 2 “The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Mount Sinai. 3 The LORD did not make this covenant with our ancestors, but with all of us who are alive today. 4 At the mountain the LORD spoke to you face to face from the heart of the fire. 5 I stood as an intermediary between you and the LORD, for you were afraid of the fire and did not want to approach the mountain. He spoke to me, and I passed his words on to you. This is what he said: 6 “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 7 “You must not have any other god but me. 8 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 10 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. 11 “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. 12 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do. 15 Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the LORD your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day. 16 “Honor your father and mother, as the LORD your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 17 “You must not murder. 18 “You must not commit adultery. 19 “You must not steal. 20 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. 21 “You must not covet your neighbor’s wife. You must not covet your neighbor’s house or land, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor. 22 “The LORD spoke these words to all of you assembled there at the foot of the mountain. He spoke with a loud voice from the heart of the fire, surrounded by clouds and deep darkness. This was all he said at that time, and he wrote his words on two stone tablets and gave them to me.

(O) bservation:
    In Moses’ second address to the people he reminds the people of the covenant God made with them at Mt. Sinai. That is the giving of the ten commandments. Moses recounts them as a reminder for the people and as an encouragement to keep them and so honor their relationship with the Lord

(A) pplication:
    We are prone to forget or maybe ignore the commands of God in our lives. We also need reminders and that is one reason we as pastors are to preach the Word and not something else. It is the Word that reveals God and His character to us. It is the Word that gives us knowledge of how God desires us to live. It is the Word that points us to Jesus. It is important that we preach the Word as a reminder to God’s children of who we are called to be and how we are to behave in this world. As I read through the Bible each day I am reminded of just how good and gracious and forgiving God has been to me.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for your Word and the constant reminder it is to me of what you desire for and from me. Let me live in a way that honors you. Amen