As we approach Remembrance Day, our thoughts turn to those who made the supreme sacrifice so that we could enjoy the freedom, blessings and benefits we enjoy as Canadians. We also remember those in our Armed Forces who are serving around the world today; engaging that which would threaten the values we hold as Canadians and seeking to keep peace in places of turmoil.
As human beings, we need / moments / days / seasons, when we are called upon to remember; to mark the significant events, passings and milestones in our lives, our homes and our nation. We have this propensity as humans for markers and milestones, for we have within us the remarkable capacity to easily forget.
In the Old Testament as God’s people prepared to enter the Promised Land,God expressed a concern to this people: When the lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deuteronomy 6:10-12)
There is within us a propensity to forget; to become casual or careless. So at this time of year when we as a nation are focused on remembering, let me remind you of four blessings that we need to remember; for which we need to give thanks.
First, we have been given the blessing of God’s grace. The Bible says, From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (John 1:16) We have received grace upon grace and then more grace. It is by grace we have been drawn into a saving relationship with God. It is grace that sustains us each and every day and grace will lead us to our home in heaven. In God’s story, grace is the first word, the last word and everything in between.
Secondly, we have been given the blessing of God’s goodness; the sheer goodness of God abundantly poured out in our lives. The Psalmist writes: Praise the lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things. (Psalm 103:1-5)
My friends at Valley, may I remind you again – He has been very good to you!
Thirdly, we have been given the blessing of God’s faithfulness. Jeremiah, who kept a stranglehold on the faithfulness of God would say: Because of the lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Our God is true to His word; a promise keeping, covenant keeping ever faithful God.
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9)
God’s grace, God’s goodness, God’s faithfulness and we have also been given, God’s promise: Joshua, in his parting words to the people of God makes this observation: You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. (Joshua 23:14)
We carry with us each day the promise of God from Psalm 23: Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the lord forever. (Psalm 23:6) What more could we ask for?
As human beings, we need / moments / days / seasons, when we are called upon to remember; to mark the significant events, passings and milestones in our lives, our homes and our nation. We have this propensity as humans for markers and milestones, for we have within us the remarkable capacity to easily forget.
In the Old Testament as God’s people prepared to enter the Promised Land,God expressed a concern to this people: When the lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deuteronomy 6:10-12)
There is within us a propensity to forget; to become casual or careless. So at this time of year when we as a nation are focused on remembering, let me remind you of four blessings that we need to remember; for which we need to give thanks.
First, we have been given the blessing of God’s grace. The Bible says, From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (John 1:16) We have received grace upon grace and then more grace. It is by grace we have been drawn into a saving relationship with God. It is grace that sustains us each and every day and grace will lead us to our home in heaven. In God’s story, grace is the first word, the last word and everything in between.
Secondly, we have been given the blessing of God’s goodness; the sheer goodness of God abundantly poured out in our lives. The Psalmist writes: Praise the lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things. (Psalm 103:1-5)
My friends at Valley, may I remind you again – He has been very good to you!
Thirdly, we have been given the blessing of God’s faithfulness. Jeremiah, who kept a stranglehold on the faithfulness of God would say: Because of the lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Our God is true to His word; a promise keeping, covenant keeping ever faithful God.
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9)
God’s grace, God’s goodness, God’s faithfulness and we have also been given, God’s promise: Joshua, in his parting words to the people of God makes this observation: You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. (Joshua 23:14)
We carry with us each day the promise of God from Psalm 23: Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the lord forever. (Psalm 23:6) What more could we ask for?
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