Don’t Ever Forget God’s Loving-Kindness
if needed, help others by reminding them…
'And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”' Joshua 4:20-24
we are reminded in old testament scripture to not forget the past, teach our children God’s Words, obey the commandments, to not forget what The Lord had done for those He loved.
some might ask why that is important. well, to begin with, if we don’t teach what is important, you will tend to not remember let alone recall when it comes time to sharing those things. people can’t be expected to learn if no one is able to teach them.
one person forgets, another follows, soon 3, then 4, and more after that. it snowballs and eventually you have people who have no clue of what God has done in the lives of the people before them, His faithfulness, and they soon look to other ‘gods’ to fulfill their desires.
this passage joshua made a ‘monument’ of stones, 12 to be exact, one carried by each tribe member. this is so every time they walk by it, the israelites would be reminded of the goodness of God. parents teaching children, their children teaching their kids, grandparents sharing stories with grandkids, and the elders reminding everyone of its significance, and so forth.
by constantly sharing these stories, the people keep it alive, reminding each other of what God had done for their people, not once but twice - that He made a way when it seemed there was none. that they are alive and thriving today because of His mercy and grace.
this would apply to our lives. knowing full well what God had done in mine through His redeeming grace through Jesus, and the Power of the Holy Spirit. we need to share our stories with whomever would listen, especially for those we have been called to witness to and for those in passing. this not only reinforces our faith, it is a reminder never to be complacent of the great sacrifice that was made that set us/me free - from sin and death.
dear Heavenly Father, teach me to be a monument; that i will stand steadfast and immovable as if i were one. that my faith and hope, which is tied up in your Lord Jesus, would be an opportunity to share of your love Father God. that those who don’t know you and even those that do, i will testify of your love and kindness. in Jesus’ name i pray, amen!