In Remembrance of Me

A memorial is a monument, statue, holiday, or ritual which serves as a remembrance or reminder of a person or an event. The Feast of the Passover was a memorial of God's sparing the firstborn of the Israelites in Egypt and of Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 12:14). When Israel crossed the Jordan River and occupied the Promised Land, Joshua commanded that 12 stones, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, be set up in the midst of the Jordan (Joshua 4:9). "These stones," he said, "shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever" (Joshua 4:7). When Jesus was in the house of Simon the leper, a woman anointed His head with oil. "Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world," said Jesus, "what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her" (Matthew 26:13; Mark 14:9). On the eve of His crucifixion Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:19). The observance of the Lord's Supper is an ongoing Christian memorial that helps the believer remember the sacrifice of Christ on his behalf (1 Corinthians 5:7; 11:25-26).

The Purpose of Memorials. Memorials stir memory. Memorials honor great lives. Memorials commemorate great deeds. Memorials inspire.

The Purpose of the Lord’s Supper. The Supper stirs in our hearts the memory of our Christ: “…in remembrance of me…” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). The Supper honors the great life of our King: “…this man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41). The Supper celebrates the great sacrifice of our Savior: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:8). The Supper inspires us to greater devotion, service and sacrifice to our Lord: “…present your bodies a living sacrifice…” (Romans 12:1).

Our Prayer: Father, stir in our hearts the memory of the great life, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Inspire us to greater devotion, service and sacrifice as we reaffirm our covenant with You through Your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Jason

Hidden in My Heart

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NKJV)

To give thanks is to express gratitude. Thankfulness is gratefulness expressed to another. Thanksgiving is the expression of gratitude. Our Heavenly Father is to be the recipient of our thanksgiving.

Our GOD created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). We share in His likeness. He is worthy of praise because He is the Creator: “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11; NKJV). Thank Him!

Our GOD sustains us (Colossians 1:17). In Him we “live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Apart from Him there is no life or breath (Acts 17:25). He upholds us “by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). Thank Him!

Our GOD has redeemed us through His dear Son (Revelation 5:9-10; Ephesians 1:3-14). Created in His image with the ability to think, reason and choose, each of us has defaced that image by falling short of His glory (Romans 3:10-18, 23). Sin defaces the image of GOD in our lives. Love compels Him to restore His image in each of us: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)! Christ Jesus has “redeemed us to God” by His blood (Revelation 5:9). Thank Him!

Indeed, “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17; NKJV). It is all about Him, it is all from Him, it is all returning to Him! Thank Him!

Jason

I Myself Thought

King Agrippa permitted Paul to speak for himself. As Paul spoke concerning the accusations of the Jews, he recapped his life for Agrippa. He spoke of his youth, his nation, and his religion. Paul pointed out that all knew of his faithfulness as a Pharisee.

"Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 26:9).

It is possible to believe something to be true that is false. It is possible to do many things believing them to be good that are in truth, evil. It is possible to be wrong.

Jesus set Paul apart to open the eyes of the Gentiles (Acts 26:18). Before Paul went to the Gentiles he had his own eyes opened by Jesus. Maybe I need my eyes opened to something...

Jason

I Believe God

While traveling to Rome a tempest threatened the lives of all aboard the ship. An angel appeared to Paul to tell him not to be afraid. He would appear before Caesar. No life aboard the ship would be lost. Paul responded to this news from above with these words for those on the ship: "Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me" (Acts 27:25).

God is there. He is trustworthy. He has spoken.

1. Read His word.

2. Believe His word.

3. Act accordingly.

Jason

Hidden in My Heart

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11; NKJV)

Israel. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:6; NKJV).

The Righteous. “The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide” (Psalm 37:30-31; NKJV).

The Young. “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4; NKJV).

Participants in the New Covenant. “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them” (Hebrews 10:16; NKJV).

Every Christian. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16; NKJV).

GOD wants His word in my heart. He doesn’t want His word on tablets of stone. He is not looking for it to be found on scrolls. He is not interested in it being in a book. Jehovah longs for His word to be found in my heart.

Jason