LEARNING DAILY

 

Joshua 4:6-7, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come saying, “What do these stones mean to you?” Then you shall answer them that all the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters were cut off.  And these stones shall be a memorial to the children of Israel forever.

 

Those who crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land were instructed by Joshua to carry stones from the river in order to establish a memorial; this memorial was to commemorate this great event. Those who were with Moses as they left Egypt were instructed by God Himself to establish weeks of remembrance. The Passover was to be remembered as was events to be remembered by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and the Feast of Weeks. The establishments of these events were to be celebrated to remember what God had done for them. From the verse from Joshua above, notice that these events were to be remembered by those who would come after those who participated in the actual events.

 

I have had the opportunity to visit the memorials established in Washington D.C. that commemorate those who gave their lives in various wars this country has fought in. Regardless of one’s beliefs about this country’s participation in some of them, we must not forget those who gave everything for this country to remain free. On the Vietnam memorial there are several names of classmates, only a few of the many names memorialized. Seeing those memorials is a time to reflect on the many who served in the world wars, Korea, Vietnam, and the wars in the Middle East; a time to remember the lives changed as a result of their serving. Saying “thank you” seems too little to say to those of you who have served this country in that way! Freedom is never free.

 

I have that same difficulty when I think of what Jesus Christ did for all would believe in Him. To me the cross is a memorial of the salvation He offers to all people. Sadly, too many look at the cross as something else, like many who walk by the war memorials and do not realize the importance, the sacrifice made and not understanding the meaning behind the memorials. Saying “thank you” to the Lord Jesus Christ for His sacrifice on the cross for each person just seems too little. Instead, we need to live our lives differently. We need to cast of our self-centered lifestyle and live on the narrow way as He desires, trusting Him in all things, and living our lives as a memorial for all to see how He has changed us.

 

There are friends who read this who have served this country. Thank you for your service, for keeping this country free for us to live our lives as we want. I pray that freedom does not become something that destroys us from within. I am so thankful for the freedom that Jesus Christ gave all who believe in Him. It is not a freedom to live in any way we want. No, it is freedom to live as He desires – freedom from a lifestyle of sin and living as an evil world wants us to. That freedom was not free either! I encourage each of us to live our lives as living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2), a memorial so others might see the power, the grace, and love Jesus Christ in us.