Monday, May 29, 2017

How Do You Celebrate Memorial Day?

So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel. He told them, "Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the LORD your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' Then you can tell them, 'They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the LORD's Covenant went across.' These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever." So the men did as Joshua had commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the LORD had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there. Joshua 4:4-8



Memorial Day commemorates the beginning of summer for most people in the US. It’s a time for picnics…and a first swim of the year in the pool or lake. But do we consider what Memorial Day really is? It was originally designated at a day to commemorate, remember and honor the American soldiers who died on active duty, beginning with the hundreds of thousands of soldiers lost in the Civil War. Their graves were decorated—so it was sometimes call “Decoration Day.” Now some people use this Memorial Day to remember any of their loved ones who have died. What did God intend for His people to “remember” and commemorate? This scripture passage is about that exciting day when God led the twelve tribes of Israel into the Promised Land—His Promised Land—and how God instructed the people through Joshua to build a memorial. That memorial was to help the children in later generations—and all the people of the earth—to know the power of God.

Then Joshua said to the Israelites, "In the future your children will ask, 'What do these stones mean?' Then you can tell them, 'This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' For the LORD your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and He kept it dry until you were all across, just as He did at the Red Sea when He dried it up until we had all crossed over. He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the LORD's hand is powerful, and so you might fear the LORD your God forever." Joshua 4:21-24

God wants us—wants everyone, everywhere—to know that He is powerful, mighty and keeps His promises. Is there any doubt about that in your mind? What can you do on this Memorial Day to honor God—to remember the great sacrifice that He made for you? Jesus laid down His life—died a painful and humiliating death on a cross for the sin of all mankind.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Romans 3:23



Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.) Romans 8:5-9.

How’s your spiritual being? Do you have the Spirit of Christ living in you?



Prayer – Lord God, Thank You for Your plan…for giving the Israelites a Promised Land and for fulfilling that promise as You led them across the Jordan River into that land of milk and honey. Even though all people have sinned—even me—You still offer forgiveness and an eternal home with You in the forever Promised Land known as Heaven. Please accept my honor and deep abiding respect for You as a Memorial for all You have done for the nation of Israel—and for me, my family, friends and neighbors. I love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.



Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 1-2; Psalms 37, 71, 94

© 2017 Text and photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

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