17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. 19 Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. 21 He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Deuteronomy 10:17-21.
In the grand narrative of faith, God beckons us to remember our deeply personal stories of transformation and salvation. This remembrance is not merely an exercise in nostalgia, but a profound call to action, urging us to extend boundless love, unwavering care, and profound compassion to all, especially those most vulnerable amongst us. This outward expression of selfless love becomes a vivid reflection of God’s own intrinsic justice, boundless love, and immeasurable mercy. Just as He, in His divine sovereignty, champions the cause of the vulnerable and lovingly guided us even when we were lost and utterly undeserving, so too are we called to embody His character in our interactions with the world, ensuring that our lives echo the transformative power of His grace.
The story of American independence, with its resounding declaration of freedom from oppression, remarkably parallels the foundational themes of Christianity. Both narratives speak to a profound yearning for liberation, ultimately pointing to God’s inherent love for humanity. Yet, over time, the potent symbolism of the American independence movement—where individuals from all ages and backgrounds united against tyranny—has, in some ways, faded from our collective consciousness. Similarly, as Christians, our own story of faith is a powerful declaration of freedom from the enslavement of sin, a liberation secured through the boundless love of God manifested in Jesus Christ. This parallel serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for freedom, whether temporal or spiritual, is deeply rooted in divine love and a desire for human flourishing.
A critical challenge for believers is the tendency to lose sight of the profound significance of our spiritual awakening over time. Just as the Israelites were given the book of Deuteronomy, a divinely inspired reminder of how to live and govern their society after their exodus from Egypt, we too need constant recall to prevent our spiritual journey from becoming a forgotten tale. The longer we drift from the moment of our spiritual rebirth, the more susceptible we become to the distractions and temptations of the world, which can obscure the path God has laid out for us. To effectively remember our story, we must perpetually recall that its genesis lies with God, our inherent sinfulness, and His sovereign act of salvation that rescued us from ourselves.
Remembering our story is an exercise in profound humility and awe. It begins with acknowledging God as the source of all things, inspiring a deep reverence for His greatness and prompting a heartfelt response to His unwavering goodness. This remembrance also necessitates a stark confrontation with our own fallen nature, recognizing that despite our sin, God’s sovereignty reached out and saved us. Accepting Christ marks the beginning of a lifelong journey that demands continuous recommitment. The myriad distractions and temptations of life can easily cloud our spiritual vision, necessitating a constant rediscovery and reaffirmation of our devotion to Him.
Ultimately, to follow Christ is to actively emulate His compassion, His boundless love, and His selfless actions. The parable of the Good Samaritan serves as a poignant reminder of this divine imperative: God calls us to remember our personal stories of transformation and, in doing so, to extend care and love to those in need, rather than walking by in indifference like the priest. The church, as the collective body of Christ, must continually recall its humble beginnings and the transformative power of God’s love that brought it into existence. Only by genuinely remembering and internalizing this story can it truly reflect Jesus in its actions, extending His love and compassion to a world desperately in need.
Horizon Community Church 