Articles
Remembering God's Promises
The holiday season is a wonderful time of year because it reminds us of people that we cherish and brings hope in many ways. We also get a comforting longing for the good memories of our lives, that we otherwise would not have remembered. All this nostalgia and reflection helps us look back on the year that is ending with feelings of joy, disdain, or most likely both. It comes without saying that 2020 has been a year full of trials and shock the world over, but how we choose to remember this year is going to have a bigger impact on our spiritual lives than we might think. Looking back, will this year be seen by us as a tremendous struggle to be forgotten, or as a year that held opportunities for tremendous blessings and growth?
The Israelite’s are a prime example of the spiritual growth and blessings God grants His people. In the book of Joshua, the people of Israel set up a stone marker as God commanded from the river Jordan that symbolized as a memory for how god fulfills the promises He makes to His people (Joshua 4). Right after crossing the river is the city Jericho, which God delivers into the hand of the Israelite’s (Joshua 6). God also commands do not take any gold from the city, but a man named Achan does and so the Israelite’s lose their next battle (Joshua 7:1-9). God ceases His anger toward the Israelite’s after they stone Achan and use his grave as a remembrance to not stray from the Lord, and so God delivers Ai into their hands and blesses them (Joshua 7-8). God delivers 5 kings and their lands to the Israelite’s (Joshua 10) and throughout the rest of the book God continues to protect and bless His people and delivers the inheritance that He promised. No sin is too great for God not to love and redeem His people.
Remember that God loves His people so much that He sent His only son to die, despite the sin and transgressions that have been made toward Him (Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 5:21). There has not been a greater example of love for you than that of Jesus Christ. Abundantly this year, we have heard people say that 2020 has been a bad year. For the people who have given birth to their child or have been baptized in the name of Christ, this year won’t be remembered as the bad year, but as the year their child was born and the year their spiritual life began. Looking back on this year you as well can find many blessings that God has given you. To where you can remember this year as the year God blessed you and remembered His people amongst so much turmoil.
Do not let the temporary struggles of this year or the next turn you so bitter against everything else in your life that you carry it around like a name (Ruth 1:1-20). How many times this year have you bore witness to the love and kindness that God lavishes His people with and instills in others? This year amongst much sin and turmoil, God has remembered and blessed you! Just as God does not give up on you, do not give up on Him. Open and honest communication with God and others is the best way to promote synergy between you and become united under God (Hebrews 13:15, 18). When we courageously pursue God’s type of love and peace amidst conflict is when the meaning of the words, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)” come to life (Hebrews 13:6)!
Inspired by: Ephesians 1 and 1 John 3
