REFLECTIONS

Lest We Forget

Moses peered across the land from atop Mount Nebo. Below the land rich with milk and honey God had promised them must have reminded him of the struggles Israelites faced in the forty years of their travels and the many timely blessings from God that came along the way. But he also envisioned the battles still to be fought, the spoils from the victories they would enjoy, and the future shaped for their children yet to be born. He found a message there:

“… Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Might not Moses’ message to the Israelites back then ring as true to our nation today. Each day we awaken blessed to live in cities we did not build, drink from wells we did not dig, eat from gardens we did not plant, and we live as if we are entitled to it all. Yet above us a banner of stars and stripes flies stately in the wind, a symbol of liberty and freedom to honor God. We pause to salute its presence from time to time, but even more its meaning. We pause to thank those who gave their lives for the way of life we enjoy; but lest we forget and that they should know, we must remember to tell our children the stories of sacrifice that made it so. But we also must tell them that victory was not won alone.

We must tell them of God’s favor, love and grace. And lest we forget, we must tell of the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus the Christ, who gave his life that our lives may be eternal.

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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