Sermon Notes, November 20, 2016
Rev.
Garry McGlinchy
Pastor
Garry’s sermon this week was titled “Remember the Mission, part 2.” The scripture reference is Deuteronomy
8:10-18. In the first eight chapters of
Deuteronomy, Moses is recounting the 40-year journey from Egypt (that should
have taken eleven days). He reminds them
of the obstacles they faced, and God’s faithfulness to overcome those
obstacles. Now they are at the edge of
the Promised Land, and he remembers God for them, modeling how to remember Him,
so that when Moses is no longer with them they will continue to remember God.
In
verse 18, he tells them to “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives
you the ability to produce wealth . . .”
In other words, what is in your pocket isn’t yours. Who gave you the ability to earn it? Moses also confirmed God’s promise to their
ancestors, that He would bless them so that they would be a blessing to others.
The
old song “Count Your Blessings” urges us to create a catalog of God’s
blessings. Remembering brings us to
thankfulness. A life of thankfulness is
a key to living in relationship to God.
Ephesians 5:15-20 tells us how—always give thanks for everything. Remember what God has done. If we haven’t remembered, how can we be
thankful?
We
need to take action as well as being thankful.
God’s promise to Abraham let him know that God would bless him so he
could bless others. As God-followers, He
wants us to share our blessings. We are
blessed as we bless others, and they in turn are blessed as they bless others.
The
people at the edge of the Promised Land couldn’t stay there—they needed to move
on and take hold of the land God promised them.
We, like them, are called to action.
God has given us work to do; we are to “make disciples of all nations”
(Matthew 28:19) not only here in our own community, but through our giving. We’re not alone—we’re part of a global
church. Our memory of God’s blessing needs to spur us to action. Let’s give--and not just money, for God has
given His all for us.
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