Remember!

Deuteronomy 25:¹⁹ “Therefore, when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies in the land he is giving you as a special possession, you must destroy the Amalekites and erase their memory from under heaven. Never forget this!” (emphasis added)

When someone is going through something, and I am unable to handle the situation personally as a leader, most times I delegate it to one of my leaders who has gone through a similar situation or experience. But what baffles me in some of the instances, not all, is the attitude of the leader. For instance, someone had gone through a lot, but if you see her today you will never know. I handed a younger lady to her to help. And she was so judgmental, so brutal, so harsh. When she was giving me the report, I had to say to her, “Have you forgotten how God showed you mercy?” Then, she was quiet. “Pastor, this is the church of God, you have to do this, you have to do that!” And I said to her, “You?” She said, “Pastor, that is in the past.” I said, “Exactly! If God did not give you a chance, would it be a “past” for you?”

The key thing is we often forget. And sometimes it is the people that should be the most merciful that are the most critical. Deuteronomy 24:^21-22 “And when you pick your grapes, go over the vines only once, then let the poor have what is left. You lived in poverty as slaves in Egypt until the Lord your God rescued you. That’s why I am giving you these laws.” (CEV, emphasis added). Many of us have struggled in the past, but now God has helped you and you look down on other people, it ought not to be. Do not forget God’s mercy, don’t forget God’s mercy. So, we deal harshly because we forget God’s mercy. Firstly, we worry because We Forget God’s Wisdom. Secondly, we deal harshly because We Forget God’s Mercy. Remember!

The third thing is We Forget God’s Justice. God will take care of your situation for you, so do not take the law into your own hands. That is the contrast between the Old and the New Testament. In the Old Testament, it was an eye for an eye. If someone plucks an eye, you go and pluck an eye back. In the New Testament, however, if someone plucks an eye, you report it to God and He will deal with it. The person will not go free, but it is not in your hands to do, let God do His thing.  So, you are free. However, from the principal standpoint, you know the person will not go free. Deuteronomy 25:^17-18 “Never forget what the Amalekites did to you as you came from Egypt. They attacked you when you were exhausted and weary, and they struck down those who were (feeble) straggling behind. They had no fear of God.” (emphasis added). Never forget God’s justice. Do not forget that God will avenge you.

Prayer: Father, may I never forget and always trust in God’s wisdom, God’s mercy, and God’s justice in every area of my life, in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen!