Then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.- Deuteronomy 6:12 ESV
The book of Deuteronomy has often been called "The Second Reading of the Law" in that it repeats and rehearses many of the commands God gave His people through Moses. It is in fact a sermon that Moses delivers to the people before they enter the Land of Promise. It is meant to remind them and teach them the importance of obedience to Yahweh and remembrance of His mighty acts on their behalf. The people are told to remember the Lord.
We enter the month of February celebrating, teaching, and remembering our heritage as African-Americans and how God has been with us through it all. It is a time for reflection, remembrance and revival. The people in Deuteronomy are told to "Never Forget". There future depends on an appreciation of the past.
Black History should provide instruction and inspiration to people all over the world. We must take note of the oppression, incarceration and discrimination that black and brown people have endured. However, we must not repeat the mistakes and failures of our past. We must be motivated to do something with our life, to build on the foundation laid by those who came before us. We must be delivered from the slave syndrome and receive a new liberation mindset that aims to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
We must never forget and we must never give up.
Sacred Music
It Ain't Over Maurette Brown Clark
Prayer
Lord, Lord, Open Unto Me
Open unto me, light for my darkness
Open unto me, courage for my fear
Open unto me, hope for my despair
Open unto me, peace for my turmoil
Open unto me, joy for my sorrow
Open unto me, strength for my weakness
Open unto me, wisdom for my confusion
Open unto me, forgiveness for my sins
Open unto me, tenderness for my toughness
Open unto me, love for my hates
Open unto me, Thy Self for myself
Lord, Lord, open unto me!
- Howard Thurman, from "Meditations of the Heart"