Afternoon Thoughts – Never Forget – Always Remember

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” (Exodus 20:2)

The Bible is clear that we live to serve someone or something. Much as we’ve been educated to believe that we’re free agents, we’re only as free as the choice we make as to who will rule us, who we will serve. In coming across the book of Exodus it’s very interesting to note the events that lead to the people of Israel growing and multiplying as immigrants in Egypt. What is undeniable, however, is that for generations all the people have known is slavery to the rule of Pharaoh in that country. All they know is that they serve Egypt and its wishes. They develop its infrastructure, build its cities, play a significant part in maintaining the status quo.

For God, then, to come in and blow that to smithereens must have meant much to the Israelites. For the dominant oppressive superpower of the day to be eradicated in a series of catastrophes must have been a convincing sign of who the real Boss is. Yet in outlining His love agreement with the people God still felt it important to state from the beginning who the people are dealing with. When put into that perspective the following requirements for the people are more than reasonable. More than understandable.

We today have been also delivered from the rule of darkness. Paul outlines in Ephesians 2:1-3 just how oppressive the rule of sin was over our lives. We shouldn’t require too much of a reminder of how bad things were without God. We shouldn’t require too much of a reminder of the hopelessness, pointlessness, boredom, frustration and despair we used to endure under the old rule. Yet that’s exactly what we do need to remind us of the great love the LORD has for us and to remind us of where we now reside as mentioned in Ephesians 2:4-7. Implicit within that is the fact that we are under new rule. So He has to be Lord of all or He’s not lord at all, and if He’s not Lord at all then that leaves room for us to slip back almost effortlessly under the old regime. Let us never forget – but always remember what God has done for us, and can do for those around us living in slavery to sin.

4 His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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