"Remember" March 30 Readings: Joshua 3-4, Luke 4:1–15, Psalm 40:1–6, Proverbs 10:1-2

Today's Readings - Joshua 3-4, Luke 4:1–15, Psalm 40:1–6, Proverbs 10:1-2

Devotional 

We like to say that "Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship." I understand what people mean when they say this, but it is really not true. Yes, the bedrock of our faith is a personal relationship with God through the work of Christ on the cross, but we do engage in many religious elements - and there is a very good reason for that! God gave rituals to his people to help us, to remind us of important things. Rituals were never the problem - that came when people simply repeated the rituals without thinking of the what they meant. Empty ritual. Religion is not the problem, but empty religion. Every time you observe the Lord's Supper, or even go to church, you are performing rituals that are religious, but are destined to remind you of important works of God.

God gave Israel a system of sacrifices, feasts, and other rituals to remind them of his goodness. At times, he commanded them to erect monuments that would become memorials so that they would remember the mighty works of god. In Joshua 3, God brought Israel through the Jordan River, at flood stage, on dry ground - one of his great miracles. As the men carrying the ark stepped into the river, God stopped the flow and they all went through in safety.

Then, in Joshua 4, God instructed Joshua to set up a remembrance. He sent 12 men, one from each tribe, back into the middle of the river. Each picked up a large rock (I imagine the biggest boulder he could carry) and hauled it out to the west side of the river. There, they piled them up as a marker. Why? That is explained in verses 6-7.

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.”

These stones were piled up so that future generations would remember the wonderful works of God.

God is constantly doing new things in our lives, but the greatest things in our faith are very old, things we remember and continue to celebrate. It is important that we erect monuments of our own to remember the works of God. Journals can be a way to do that. Public testimonies. Whatever other form you find. But when God does something great in your life, when he acts in might and in power, it is good if you remember.

Remember the old things. Remember the death of Christ for your sins. Remember the resurrection of Christ that gives you new life. Remember all that Jesus has done for you. But also, remember the new things, the personal things, the answered prayer, the provisions, the hurdles overcome. Don't simply trust your memory because the flesh is so easily manipulated to forget God's goodness and revert to panic.


Let us each erect a monument in our own hearts to remember daily what Jesus did and what he is doing. May we never forget!

Father, tell me the old, old story of Jesus. Write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard. May I never forget. 

Think and Pray

What do you do to remember the great works of God in your life?
Do you keep a journal?
A list of prayers and answers?
If you have not already, devise a remember God's work in your life.