Memorial Stones

?Memorial Stones?

Stand & Read: Joshua 4:20-24

?And those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. [21] And he said to the sons of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ’What are these stones?’ [22] then you shall inform your children, saying, ’Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ [23] "For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; [24] that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever."

What makes Memorial Day memorable for you?

v For some, Memorial Day is a day off from work, a time to finally be with your family, picnics, burgers & hot dogs, and some fun in the sun!

v But for many others it is a painful day to remember friends, and family who have gone on. To decorate graves, and read the epitaphs one more time that tell of a story of one?s life, who is now gone.

Oh yes, we would much more like to have the first than the second?however, memorial day is a day for all of us, and one that even God would have for you and I, to remember what was, so we can be thankful for what is and is to come!

Remember?Deut. 6:5-12

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. [6] "And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; [7] and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. [8] "And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. [9] "And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

[10] "Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, [11] and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you shall eat and be satisfied, [12] then watch yourself, lest you forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.?

It is here that the Lord begins to advise the Israelites to impress the ways of the Lord upon their children. Not impression, such as brain washing like today?s world would say you are doing, but rather to describe, show, and recall what the Lord has accomplish in and with His people so that the children will know and be a part of it as well, and live their lives in respect and confidence from the past and what was accomplished.

For it has been said that, ?to those who do not know history, are doomed to repeat it??and church, if we do not study, remember, and know history, it will repeat itself. Both in the physical realm, as well as the Spiritual!

So why repeat when you can learn and benefit from what has already been accomplished???

1 Cor. 10:6

?Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved.?

1 Cor. 10:11

?Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.?

Church, we don?t need to repeat history! Let?s learn from the past and build upon it, rather than reinvent the wheel, AGAIN!

This is why History is taught in the school, or at least should be taught in it?s truth to our children so that they know what REALLY has taken place for their freedoms today, and the sacrifices of men and women so that it could be!!!

This is a key way to express your love for God à by how you teach and train up your children in the ways in which they must go?that is a reflection of your love and desire for God.

v For the Godly training of a child should be the foremost of concern for parents?

v This spiritual instruction must be centered in the home, with MOM & DAD taking part, however, if this isn?t a cooperative effort, then faithful ONE, keep up the Good Work! Also, devotion expressed in the home is no option, but a command!!!