Remembering
Notes
Transcript
On Memorial Day, we remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. One such hero is Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith, the first Medal of Honor recipient in the Iraq War. His selfless act of bravery saved the lives of many of his comrades, and his legacy reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice made by so many. We look back to remember, we live in the present with perspective from the past, and we look to the future with confidence in our God’s faithfulness.
LOOKING BACK TO OUR PAST DECISIONS
A.Moses (Heb. 11:25). Moses had to make a choice. He could have continued to live among the rich, but instead he chose to live with God’s people. As the result God made him a leader. He was the man who would receive the Ten Commandments. Heb 11:25
25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Joshua (Josh. 24:15). Joshua challenged the people to make a choice. He then made a choice for himself and his family.
15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Solomon (1 Kings 3:9). Solomon could have asked for anything, but he asked for wisdom.
9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
What decisions and dedications have you made in the past that you need to live in light of today?
Your commitment to follow Jesus?
Your Wedding Vows?
Your child dedication?
REMEMBER GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’ ” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 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 before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” 8 And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there.
What Are Your Stones of Remembrance in Your life? Have you written them down? Have you made art work out of them, or put them in a scrap book? Have you chiseled them in stone, or at least put them as a background on your phone? Maybe you need a memento by your desk, or a piece of jewelry
LIVE IN THE PRESENT
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He Lives, All fear is gone
Because I know He Holds the Future,
and Life is worth the living just because He Lives!