Morning Manna | Deuteronomy 24:18 | Thou Shalt Remember

Deu 24:18  But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

The Lord uses this phrase five times in the book of Deuteronomy [Deu 24:22, Deu 5:15, Deu 15:15, Deu 16:12]. Each time it is dealing with how they treat others. Specifically those under their authority, and the disadvantaged. It is no secret how Jesus treated the lowest of society, he fed the hungry, healed the sick, preached in fields and streets, and was accused of being a friend of sinners. I remember one accusation made was "This man recieveth and eateth with sinners." It is sad when our "Christianity' makes us despise the poor instead of pity them, or condemn sinners instead of ministering to them. Sadly a lot of what passes for Christianity is more akin to the attitude of Pharisees instead of Our Lord. 

Jesus was "The Word made Flesh." It is in all those acts of kindness and condescension that we see these sorts of laws "Fleshed out." I've read of Jesus's kindness and I know I am commanded to be like him and to minister to the lowly, love sinners, and help those who would never be willing to return the favor. Knowing what we are supposed to do usually isn't the problem. The problem I have found is how? How can I love the unlovely? How can I give to people who don't appreciate it, who will waste it, who aren't even grateful? I believe these five statements show us how. 

"Thou shalt remember." We sit on our high horses with all the blessings the Lord has given us and look down on the people below us. The only way this is possible is that we have forgotten. We forgot what we used to be, we at one time were the ones in need. Jesus, like the good samaritan, came and rescued us from the ditch of sin, bound up our wounds, afforded us rest, and has never ceased to care for us. When I remember that he has done this for me, it helps me see things from the right perspective and presses me to do for others what was done for me. When I have felt obligated to give to people who I thought would waste what was given to them, I have been reminded of all the blessings he has given me that I wasted. When I have been tempted to be harsh and unkind to people, I have been reminded how gentle and lowly he has treated me when I made mistakes. 

If you are struggling with having the heart of Christ in your dealings with others, then let these verses minister to you. Set some days aside to remember his forgiveness, his gentleness, his mercy, remember his example. Then remember your low estate, remember your own faults and failures, remember your poverty. Forgetfulness was a serious problem for the nation of Israel "They forgot all his wonderful works." So it is for us, we forget the pit he pulled us out of, but we shouldn't. We forget the kindness he has extended, over and over, but we shouldn't. We forget how many times he has bailed us out, but we shouldn't. "Thou shalt remember."