Monday of the First Week in Lent

Take 

care 

that 

you 

do 

not

forget 

the 

Lord 

your 

God 

by 

failing

 to 

keep 

his commandments Deuteronomy 8:11 

At first I was going to leave out the last part which in fact goes on to include not just keeping God’s commandments, but “his ordinances and his statutes” as well. Felt a little heavy on the OBEDIENCE theme. And then, as I sat with it, it occurred to me that "taking care not to forget God" is not just a matter of the mind, of  thinking fond thoughts, but is a remembering by DOING, of my actions. If I DO take care to remember God, I WILL keep the commandments - I won’t hate or kill of covet. Or at least I will be less likely to do so....
A very astute reflection Bill 

I try to stay away from heavy OBEY GOD OR ELSE  stuff because it seems that it has so distorted the main message. There's really no getting around the fact that you do need to do what God wants you to do but it seems to me that it flows out of the relationship rather than coming  first and being crammed down the throat ... It''s like a spousal relationship where you do certain things because you love the person no tin OREDER for them to love you. I have a friend who’s a recovering alcoholic and a great friend of God (now)  says by the time he was 12 he knew he was going to hell, so what's the use. Where is the Good News of God’s saving love in that!? 

That’s true and St. Paul does mention the freedom of the children of God wherein we are not constrained but obey out of love.  Then there is always: love God and do what you will.  A famous phrase which remains true.