ESOCS Devotional 12 August 2026 – Remember the Lord Your Source
MEMORY VERSE: Deuteronomy 8:17“You may say to yourself, “my power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
TEXT: Deuteronomy 8:11-20
“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15 who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end— 17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. 20 As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God.
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Our text today is a warning to the children of Israel who were young in the wilderness with the hope of entering the land of promise. Israel spent forty years in the desert and within that space of time all adults who joined to rebel against God died. It was their children that Moses sat down to teach and warn of the dangers of rebelling against God when they settle down and enjoy the land of promise.
In real life, people seem to be close to God or even call on him during hard times and times of trouble or danger. The number of churches is growing every day. Crusade grounds and congregations where you find miracle workers are populated in our country because the times are hard and people are looking up to God for help.
In Europe and America where the economy is better, I hear that most people don’t go to Church. Those who are at ease seem to forget God easily. But it is worse for those who passed through hard times but later got help from God when they cried and after they have gained their ground turn back against God in disobedience and idolatry. We must all watch and avoid situations like this. In verse 11 Moses warned young Israelites “Be careful, do not forget the LORD your God….” (Deut. 8:12-14).
It is an act of gratitude to remember the past and order your life with regard to its experience. Particularly, when God by His mercies lifted you from nothing to somewhere, putting you in a position where you can be reckoned with, do not forget to live in appreciation of God. (Deut. 8:15, 16).
One way to escape from the evil of ungratefulness is to run away from pride. Do not take or claim the glory that belongs to God. Give God glory for what you have lived to become. It is only the living that can count his blessings. Give that glory to God, the giver of life and the saviour of all. (Deut. 8:16-18).
Those who take praise for what God did, don’t live to enjoy the rest. The scripture and daily life experience is replete with instances. Avoid it. It is a destiny killer. May we live to ever remember and honour God through whom we have become blessed.
Question
Do you agree that God is the source of your present status?
Prayer
Father, please sustain me in what you have made me become and lead me to the next level. You are my source and I am satisfied. In Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading:
Ezekiel 36:16-32, Matt. 7:1-13, Heb. 6:1-12.
ESOCS Devotional 12 August 2026
