Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 

SOLDIERS OF CHRIST - MEMORIAL DAY
Joshua: 4: 1-9
Vs. 7b: So these stones shall be to the people of  Israel a memorial forever.
The last Monday in May is officially observed as Memorial Day in the United States. It was inspired by the way people in the southern states honored their dead soldiers. A common explanation is that the civil war was fought on the moral issue of slavery. The economical and political control of the  system of that particular period was central to the conflict and resultant war. Likewise we may remember the World war II memorial in Washington D.C., recollecting the war veterans who went through the worst of the times and the best of the times thereafter. 
                         
We can read a similar event that happened, when we study the book of Joshua chapter 4. The Israelites under the leadership of Joshua, were also  memorializing a  significant period in the history of their people.

In this passage, the Israelites were completing their forty years of wandering in the desert. They had finally crossed the river Jordan and entered the promised land. Then, the spirit of the Lord asked the people through their leader Joshua to memorialize what they have been through, and to remember God's faithfulness during their stressful journey.  They erected monuments of 12 stones symbolizing each tribe of  Israel,  over the place they stepped in after crossing the river – called Gilgal. Joshua also set up 12 stones in the middle of Jordan where the priests' feet stepped  in while carrying the ark.  Immediately the flow of the river was stopped, and it held back allowing the people to cross over.   
                        
This remained as a memorial to the people of Israel  and their children even today, reminding them that they had crossed the river,  not on their own, but through the  power and faithfulness of the eternal God.   The stones on the river bank symbolizes the victory of new life by our savior's resurrection, and the stones on the midst of the river symbolized the savior's tomb  where he experienced death on our behalf.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, may your sacrifice on the cross and the empty tomb shall stay as an everlasting memorial to us and our children forever, reminding us the victory over sin and  death. Amen.

Thought of the day
Not by strength nor by might, but by my spirit says the Lord of Hosts. (Zech: 4:8)

Dr. John K. Thomas
Tabor MTC, Staten Island

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more