do not forget

At the start of the new year I decided to try to read through the bible in a year.....again. This time I'm using a plan from Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. It offers a little more flexibility than some with five days off a month. I'm always cautious about embarking on an endeavor like this because I constantly fall into the trap of "checking the boxes" (literally in this case) and remove the role of the spirit. I've kept up for the most part and I've really enjoyed my daily time in the word. I got a little bogged down in Numbers and eventually listened to The Rev's advice and took a detour to Deuteronomy. Aye, I'm married to a very wise man. Here are a few of my favorite passages from the past few days. 

Deuteronomy 4:9, 35 (NIV)

9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. 

These passages follow pretty closely after the Israelites and their constant complaining after their exodus from Egypt. They're being reminded to keep the commandments of the Lord and remember what they were saved from. I get so frustrated whenever I read about them. I just want to scream, "You were in SLAVERY! You would actually CHOOSE to go back so you could be more comfortable?!" Then I realize that I make those kinds of decisions every single day. Far too often I choose comfort over freedom and I love how these verses keep me mindful of that. Most of the time I rely on my own strength and truly believe that the blessings I have are the product of my own power. Verse 35 reminds us that all of the blessings we have been shown are for the sole purpose of glorifying God.