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Eating breakfast with my dad
Most mornings my dad would have Tasters Choice instant coffee and some type of bread or toast for breakfast. As we ate together, he would share stories from his life growing up in the Soviet Union. Most of these were about the trials and tribulations of following Jesus.
My dad witnessed and heard stories of ministers imprisoned in Siberia for their faith. When my dad was drafted into the Red Army, he suffered persecution for not bearing arms. He shared stories of allegiance to one kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven.
My father's stories and many other faith stories from my grandmother had a strong impact on me. They reminded me God is always faithful and He is always good.
These stories also remind me that my faith is not only personal but a part of God's story from generations before me and will continue generations after me.
Remember everything God has done
Moses commanded the people to remember everything God did. The repetitive theme in chapter eight is to remember the relationship between God and His people.
"Remember that for 40 years the LORD your God led you on your journey in the desert." (Deut 8:2 GW)
Moses didn't just remind the people of all the good times. The exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt wasn't all rainbows and butterflies. These people went through harsh times. Yet, in the midst of their hardship, God was never absent.
"So he made you suffer from hunger and then fed you with manna, your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t swell these past 40 years." (Deut 8:3-4 GW)
Remembering that leads to hope in the future
Remembering what God has done throughout our lives and the generations before gives us hope and a future.
Moses reminded the people of the 40 years they wandered in the desert. Even as the Israelites went through a time of refinement God was present.
Remembering God's goodness in the past leads us to God's goodness in the future.
After Moses reminded the Israelites of God's faithfulness, he commanded them to follow the Lord and told them of the glorious promise to come.
"The land will have enough food for you, and you will have everything you need." (Deut 8:9 GW)
The call to remember keeps us anchored in God's plan and purpose. His story is grand and dynamic.
The bigger picture
When we look back at what God has done in our lives, and the generations before us we begin to understand that it's not "all-about-me" and the present circumstances.
There is a big picture and a dynamic purpose. It started before us and will continue after us.
My Dad's stories of his faith and God's faithfulness in his life spurred me on to seek and know God. They reminded me that God was writing my story before I was even born.
God's story, me, and you
What God started years before me, he continues to work out through me and will continue to do so many generations after me.
“You saw with your own eyes all these spectacular things that the LORD did.” (Deut 11:7 GW)
Reflect on all that God's done in your life, and receive the promise of what God will do.
This is a guest post by Sergei Kutrovski (@kutrovski)