BEWARE LEST THOU FORGET THE LORD

 EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

MAY 7

 

Deuteronomy 6:12

Then beware lest thou forget the LORD,

which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt,

 from the house of bondage.

 
We are prone to commit this sin,
  especially in temporal prosperity.
 
We forget our infinite obligation to him—
   our absolute dependence upon him-
   our accountableness to him.
 
To make use of the knowledge we possess, 

we should daily remember to acknowledge him in all things.
 
To apply to him for all we need, under all we suffer;
   to commit ourselves and our cause unto him;
   to endeavour in all things and by all means to please him;
   to expect his promised interposition in trials, 

   and supplies in need,
   let us henceforth beware lest we forget the Lord,
   for it dishonours him.
 
It deeply grieves him.
It is injurious to us,
   for it generates timidity or hardness;
      insincerity or worldliness;
         foreboding and prayerlessness;
             ingratitude and self-righteousness.
 
To prevent this crying sin, let us open each day with solemn prayer 

and devout meditation on some portion of God’s word;

   let us cultivate the habit of ejaculatory prayer;
   let us always endeavour to have some suited subject 

   ready at hand for meditation,
   some portion of scripture, or some attribute of God, or
   some office of Christ or some merciful providence.
 
 

Forget the Lord! and can it be

That I should so ungrateful prove;

Alas! I have forgotten thee

Too long, too oft, thou God of love

 
James Smith