I close my eyes and . . . without leaving my chair, I can visit the beaches of Nags Head, NC where our family had some great vacations! The sounds - waves rolling onto the beach, sea gulls calling as they soar overhead, children laughing; the smells, the faces are stored in my memory. It can be fun to relive some of them, horrifying to remember others. We all know that the good things get better and the bad things get worse as they age in our memories! That's one reason we write the best and/or important memories down, preserving them for posterity.
The Bible tells us about some people who remembered... and found encouragement in celebrating the goodness of the Lord and those who served Him. "Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. " (Malachi 3:16, NKJV) Jesus commanded that His followers to remember. We call it Communion, or the Lord's Supper. Every time we reverently move through the rite- it becomes an occasion to refresh the wonder of our salvation and His sacrifice - "The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me. After supper, he did the same thing with the cup: This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-25, The Message)
Today is Memorial Day. It began after the Civil War that torn these United States apart. People were urged to go and decorate the graves of those whose lives were taken by that terrible, blood-soaked conflict. Decoration Day became a time to remember those who died in all of our nation's wars, and today is called Memorial Day. For many of us, it is kind of an unofficial first day of Summer, with picnics and cook-outs, pool parties, and perhaps a parade.
Today - as you enjoy a day off - remember those who lives were cut short by a bullet or a bomb. Give thanks to God for this wonderful nation and the freedoms we enjoy from tyranny because of those who were willing to defend our liberties. Ask Him for wisdom to use the freedoms and opportunities in a way that is honorable, that makes their sacrifice noble.
And, as you remember, pray for the coming of the Prince of Peace and for the Kingdom of Peace which the Bible describes.
"Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the Temple of the God of Israel.
There he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him.”
For in those days the Lord’s teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem.
The Lord will settle international disputes.
All the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end. Come, people of Israel, let us walk in the light of the Lord!" (Isaiah 2:3-5, NLT)
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