MEMORIAL DAY 2020

Freedom is Not Free
In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to put down “memorial stones” that reminded them of specific victories. Every time they passed by certain stones, they would recall an event, such as when they crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Having these memorial stones helped them to keep God’s deeds fresh in their memories.  A wise person once said, “Freedom is not free,” and that is certainly true in our nation. Memorial Day is a time when we honor all the brave men and women who have given their lives in service for this country. As we remember them, let’s honor the gift of freedom they have given us by saying thank you with our actions and choosing to love and honor others. Let’s also honor all those who are serving in our armed forces and their families who are sacrificing so much today. Let’s pray for God’s peace, protection, and provision over every area of their lives.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the men and women who have given their lives to secure and keep our freedom as a nation. Thank You that You are with our soldiers and their families wherever they go. Help them to be strong and courageous and know Your peace that passes understanding. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts,
Paul gave us his thought concerning the LORD’S SUPPER in 1 Cor 11:23-26 as a memorial   “For I received from the Lord Himself that which I passed on to you [it was given to me personally], that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was treacherously delivered up and while His betrayal was in progress took bread,  24 And when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, Take, eat. This is My body, which is broken for you. Do this to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.  25 Similarly when supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink [it], to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.  26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord’s death until He comes [again].  1 Cor. 11:23-26.  So the Lord Supper is not a sacrament but a memorial to bring us back to the Cross where we were /are forgiven, healed and set free.   And yet It is amazing how soon we forget to even observe this HIS memorial in our hearts.  In most of my church experiences it simple  become a ritual, something that we are supposed to do once in a while.  The whole of this mimorial is carefully explained by Paul 1 Cor.11:18-34.   You should study this…. very carefully due to the blessings and/or the penalty, verses 29-30.

In the Bible we are reminded of many things to do.  David wrote for us to remember and hide God’s Word in our heart that we might not sin against HIM.  Psalm 119.   In fact you might to do a study on the Old and New Testament as to all the things GOD challenges us to remember.  There are good traditions and bad traditions, only by the Word of God can you tell the difference.

When my mother passed away many many years ago I took her remains back to Kentucky to fill the last of 6 spaces in the Peffer family cemetery plot.  And her name was added to the family head stone or marker for all who come to remember her and her life as part of the family.  She was buried next to her father and grandfather and 3 other family members.  The Cross of Christ Jesus is also a memorial So that everywhere it is seen it is to remind Christians of HIS sacrifice lovingly given to give us the opportunity to become the Children of God.  Wedding Rings were also exchanged for the same purpose to remind ourselves and others that we are under the vows of marriage.  I have scars here and there and each reminds me of some event, some good and some bad.  So our lives are really full of memorials.  But today is a special day set aside nationally as a day or remembrance.   Hope you used it wisely.

Ephesians 2:11, “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;”  John 15:20.  “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”

So a memorial is to make it a pont to clearly remember some important event in the past.  Today we take time to remember our family members who have graduated and those of the military that gave all they had for our freedom.   And most important it is for us to remember that Christ Jesus died to give us the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins and be changed to live with our Creator.  It seems very possible to me that today the God of Creation has aloud us some time off to reconsider what is really most important in our lives.  Now we are mostly stuck at home with our kids.  So how are we going to use the time.  Might just get the family together to pray, read some scriptures from the Gospels and have each bring something important to share.  This is really what the Early Church looked like.  It was a small family gathering centered in Jesus.  A theater, it was not.   New Idea?  Give it a try.   Might also include a back issue of “Worth Considering.”