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(Remember you where a Slave...Putting life into perspective)
Deuteronomy 16:11-12, "You shall rejoice before the LORD your God...You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt [but God delivered you]."
During my bible reading in Deuteronomy I have come across more than once where God says to "remember" that you where "slaves in Egypt" and that I saved you and blessed you. God gives many practical outcomes that happen when you remember this properly such as: it keeps us from being prideful but thankful in God (Deut. Ch. 6)[1] and spurs us to be kind to strangers and finally strengthens us to be continually rejoicing (Ch. 16).
It is obvious that the Exodus deliverance of God of the children of Israel from their enslavement was a foreshadowing of Christ's saving of man from the enslavement of sin. Therefore, every time I read in the Old Testament as it mentions God slaving Israel from Egyptian slavery I hear ringing in my own heart: "Your Lord Jesus Christ has saved you from your enslavement of sin."
I have been trying to apply this in my thoughts more and more. I do this because this is the biblical counseling to all who wish to destroy thoughts of pride and feeling lethargic toward God. The world or even other Christian fools might have their so-called best way to destroy these things but they are less than worthless to me. For by every word of God does man live!p[2] For this is exactly what God said to Israel in Deuteronomy chapter 6. Earlier He says do not forget God and become lethargic and prideful when He blesses you. Moses therefore writes several times for this nation to remember over and over that they were rotten and hopeless slaves and that all their good is because God showed them kindness and saved them! Because this is an antitype we must do the same as Christians in our lives.
This is why Paul speaks in same way for answering how to solve our boasting and inspiring our love to God, such as: Romans 11:22, "Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off."
If you or I wish to be full of rejoicing, without pride and full of energy toward our wonderful Lord, then this fight must be won every day as we remember deeply that we were wicked slaves to sin (God haters) and Jesus Christ saved us! This will put the whole world into perspective. This seems too simple for some and so they feel they must add. Yet, for those who do not love God nothing will satisfy their hungry pride, although it might be well hidden under much false pretence in the name of religion.
Just today I was feeling in my thoughts and soul lethargic toward God and I knew it. Plus I was feeling discontented. Therefore, I quieted my mind and considered again that I deserved no good thing that I was in fact a wicked slave to sin, without hope! Furthermore, I considered that it was my great and awesome God, Jesus Christ, who saved me! And that He did this at such great suffering to Himself, thus giving perfect assurance of His love!
When deeply considering that I was truly a piece of garbage, a slave to sin, born like this and was this until my Lord saved me that my prideful discontentment was penetrated. Once I knew again afresh that I deserve nothing but God's power working against me and His judgment then discontentment fled my soul as darkness flies the light. Furthermore, as I also pondered afresh that by being a propitiation for my sins God displays His great heavenly love for me, my heart was elevated to a sincere rejoicing in my God. This left in my heart a shining heavenly light of contentment which money cannot buy, but can only be given in the embrace of the Supreme Being. To God be given the Glory!
Prayer:
Oh Lord, thank you, for saving me. How ashamed I feel when I find myself in discontentment for it is such a dishonor to You. Reveal every sinful area of my life and gently burn the darkness away with the light of Son's face. May His hands that were pierced for me be the same hands to apply the healing balm of Gilead to the sinful and broken areas of my life. Grant me true repentance always before Your grant Name and throne, until I come into the fullness of your glorious perfection you have for me.
Thank you for teaching me how to fight and so live my life in a more pure praise to Your Name, for that is my heart's goal. Please merciful God grant me a heart to take advantage of this instruction you have placed in my hand. Empower me by the Holy Spirit to daily if not hourly remember I was a slave of sin, without hope, and that it was Your glorious Son who saved me in His own blood, being the true Passover Lamb of God!
OH, Sun of righteousness, Son of love there is none who compares with You! Who is the King of Glory? His is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is strong and mighty, mighty to save. Amen!
[1] Deuteronomy 6:20 " When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments [of] LORD our God? Then you shall say to your son: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand."
[1] Deuteronomy 8:3, "Man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Yahweh."
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