Several times a day we stop and thank the Lord for what He has given us.
It usually revolves around a dinner table or a bedtime prayer.
A short intermittent reminder from Whom the day was given and to Whom it need be praised.
But when the leaves begin to fall, the frost starts to appear, and the seasons begin to change...
we take the time to reflect deeper.
Making lists. Writing on leaves. Creating thankful crafts.
Each of these things acting for us as a memorial.
A monument or marker...drawing our attention to all that our gracious Creator has supplied for us.
Similar to the stones of old...piled high with remembrance...signifying the Israelites reliance on Jehovah.
So Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on its top. He called the name of that place Bethel; however, previously the name of the city had been Luz. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”Genesis 28:18-22
Not trusting in the sovereign plan of God, Jacob deceitfully took matters into his own hand.
Gaining a birthright, but losing his place in the home, he took for the road.
God chose that moment to remind him Who is in charge. Who ultimately gives the blessings.
In the midst of his sin, Jacob is reminded of God's steadfast faithfulness and sovereign plan.
And thus, he sets up a monument of remembrance.
In times of doubt...in the hesitancy of sin...in moments of anxiety...
Bethel will stand boldly as a reminder of the God that never leaves or forsakes.
A reminder of the plan that never fails.
A reminder of reality of the presence of an amazing God.
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb. You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you. And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever. Exodus 12:21-24
A memorial of redemption.
A people in need of being rescued from slavery. Living in dark times.
Surrounded by pain and suffering.
A calling to be set apart from those they were living amongst.
We are living in dark times. Times of slavery. Times of pain and suffering.
We need to set up a memorial...a monument to remind us to be set apart.
So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; and Joshua said to them, “Cross again to the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”
Joshua 4:4-7
A monument of parents.
A reminder to be a living testimony of thankfulness.
Breaking the cycle of complaining and grumbling.
Rehearsing for their children all of the provisions of their mighty God.
An opportunity for discipleship and training in righteousness.
They were to bring stones to set up a memorial...a visual sign of remembrance that the Lord is their God.
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying,“Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Matthew 26:26-29
A memorial of grace.
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Pulling us out of the everyday routine and reminding us of our great need for a Savior.
A time to reflect upon the most significant gift...deserving of the sincerest gratitude.
To pause and recount all that it cost our gracious God to redeem us.
To remember that we are not of this world...but only passing through.
What monuments have you set up to act as reminders in times of anxiety and doubt?
What memorials are visible to the eyes of your children...training them to set their eyes upon the Savior?
Are we a generation that is living in thankfulness to the provisions from our God?
Have we broken the cycle of grumbling and complaining in our family?
Do we practice the presence of God...extending and receiving the sweetness of grace?
As this week rushes past and we move along to the next...may we pause to take the time to set up monuments and memorials in our lives.
Not just for this one special day of thanks...but for the mundane and ordinary days ahead.
