Read & Reflect
Essential to the Christian life is the practice of remembering. At the Lord’s supper, we remember Jesus’ sacrifice, in worship, we recall the goodness of God, in community we remind one another who we are in Christ. In fact, God’s people have been ‘practicing remembrance’ together for thousands of years! The scripture reading from today brings us back to a critical juncture in our history when Moses and the Israelites had recently been brought out of slavery in Egypt and were trying to figure out how to live faithful to the way of their one Lord. Gather with those in your house, or find a comfy place to sit by yourself and read the scripture out loud.
Read Deuteronomy 6
Notice how significant remembrance is for the life of God’s people in this passage. What stood out to you in reading that perhaps has not before?
The commands of God are located within the context of a relationship The people of Israel obey Yahweh because of their shared history. We too follow God not as a distant or abstract deity but as the Lord who liberates his people from sin and death and calls us his own. At the end of each calendar year, we are presented with a wonderful opportunity to remember the time that has passed and identify what God has been up to. In so doing we recall the truth that through Jesus our own stories intersect with the story of God, we are participants in a divine drama of unparalleled significance. Take time to reflect on these questions and, if possible, discuss them with those around you.
Reflect
- Look back at 2024 and reflect on:
- What brought you joy
- What helped you grow
- Decision you made (good or not that good)
- Where you found strength when you needed it
- What helped you realign when you felt lost
- Where have you noticed God this year?
- Where do you want to go into the next year?
Turn on some worship music and praise God for never leaving or forsaking his people this year! As you worship ask God if there is a word or a promise he wants to give you for this upcoming year.
Click the button below for an Antioch Worship playlist!