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.
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