Verse of the Day 7/25

Through the Bible - Psalms 44-46, Acts 27:1-26

 

Good morning,

Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit my son Jason and his wife Kristen in Washington D.C.  On Saturday we spent some time walking around the "mall" and saw the Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial to name a few.  They are reminders of some of the great momemts, great struggles, and great courage, and in many instances faith in God, that was exemplified, lived out by so many in our country.

 

We recently considered some of the "small steps" that became leaps of faith in the Bible.  We are blessed that they were recorded and preserved for us, to challenge, encourage and inspire us in our Christian walk and faith.

Today's verse comes from Joshua chapter 4 as they approached to Jordan river, Joshua gave the leaders instructions to take stones from the river to serve as a memorial of the event, the great thing that God had done in parting the waters that they could cross.  These verses stress the importance of the memorial.

 

Josh 4:6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever."    NKJV

The exodus from Egypt that had begun with the parting of the Red Sea now ends with God holding back the waters at the Jordan so that they could cross.  God lead them out of the bondage and slavery of Egypt through the waters  and brought them into the promised land in a similar miraculous way.  What about your salvation?  From where has God brought you?

 

We shouldn't be dwelling on our past, but spiritual markers are important for us but moreso for our children and families (but physical and spiritual) that they may know and remember what God has done in our families.  This can be done in many ways, in pictures, Bible verses, or in journals.  The times that I have kept a journal have primarily been when I was going through "the valley".  Those notations and entries were difficult and there were heart wrenching questions.  But when I look at them now I am reminded of God's faithfulness, morning by morning and day by day.

 

Another "old' hymn by Fanny Crosby comes to mind.

 

All The Way My Savior Leads Me

 

All the way my Savior leads me
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

 

All the way my Savior leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

 

All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father's house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Josh 4:1-15

 

The Memorial Stones

 

4 And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: 2 "Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, 3 and command them, saying, 'Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.'"

 

4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them: "Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever."

 

8 And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.

 

10 So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over. 11 Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people. 12 And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them. 13 About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.    NKJV