Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

Memorial Day Joshua 4:1-9             Pradeep John Connecticut Mar Thoma Congregation 6 so that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.”   So, let this Memorial Day be not just another holiday, but when we think of the men and women who laid down their lives for this country, let us do it with hope that in Christ an amazing future awaits them and us. We should not forget that as Christians, along with being a citizen of this world, we also hold the citizenship of another world (Phil 3:20).We are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ who being God became man, humbled himself and gave himself as a ransom for all humankind (1 Tim2:6). The Lord's supper is a hopeful memorial. It reminds us of the sacrificial love of God through which we can inherit eternal life. As Christians we are responsible in the family to teach and remind our children the wonderful works of God. Every record of what God has done in generations past, is a promise of what He will do again in our lives because God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The testimonies of God are what connect each succeeding generation of believers to His promises. We should also teach our children about our Mar Thoma church and its doctrines. How the past and present leaders of our Mar Thoma church stood strong in faith and conviction so that the church would come into being and be a blessing to us. Remind our children that this is the church where our forefathers worshipped the Lord. Loss of memory is a sad state. It rips us of our past experiences, our personal history and leaves us blank. Sometimes we are forgetful because of neglect. We are inattentive to things around us and also take for granted all the blessing we receive from God. Failure to remember the works and blessings of God is a spiritual failure. It erodes the foundation of faith and our relationship with God.  Reading through the Bible makes it apparent that a great deal of importance is placed on remembrance. Forgetting the benefits of God is thanklessness, and we will forgo the blessings from God. The context of this passage is a divine command to Joshua to prepare a monument with stones from the midst of Jordan. These stones were a memorial to remind the people of Israel and their future generations that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the people crossed safely to the Promised Land. Memorial Day is a day when all Americans join together to remember the sacrifices of those who responded to their nation’s call. The freedoms that Americans enjoy did not come cheaply. They were paid for with the lives of American servicemen and women. Sometimes, there is a failure to recognize the deeds of the men and women who fought for our freedom. Memorial Day is a day of opportunity to give thanks for all that we are blessed with.

PRAYER Gracious and Loving Father, teach us to offer a thankful heart for all Your love, mercy and blessings toward us. Amen THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Bless the Lord O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (Psalm 103:2)