If you are familiar with Simon and Garfunkel, you will probably recognize the words to their song “A Hazy Shade of Winter.”
Ahhh, seasons change with the scenery
Weaving time in a tapestry
Won't you stop and remember me
At any convenient time…
God’s words to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy also deal with the passing of time. But God makes a much stronger claim on the people. “…Take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life…” (Deuteronomy 4:9). God’s actions are not to be considered “at any convenient time”, but at all times. “Make them known to your children,” says God, “and your children’s children” (4:9).
Too much is lost in the “busy-ness” of life. Even things that we consider important can become dim and disjointed recollections if we do not hold fast to them. This is even the case in our relationship to God. “What have you done for us lately?” we may ask, not in a snooty way, but because we simply don’t remember. “Take care,” God warns, “and watch yourselves closely…”. God does not forget us; we have got to do a much better job of remembering God and what God has meant to us. Otherwise we may be tempted to stray after lifeless idols or to live with no focus and no purpose. God wants better from us, because God wants better for us. “Take care,” God says. Don’t ever forget.
Prayer: Lord, help us to remain focused on you and to live according to your will for our lives, so that we may experience all of the grace you hold out to us. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment