Sometimes you have to make the best out
of a bad situation. You weren’t going to get a blog post today because my
family and I are on the road to Florida to visit Crystal’s mom and step-father.
However, as we got off the interstate in Knoxville to get gas our serpentine
system in our van completely locked up. So now after getting my van towed, I am
sitting in McDonalds doing my blog post and waiting on a mechanic to call me.
So by our misfortune you get your daily Bible reading! God provides.
We learn a good lesson in our reading
today. We have to be careful that the symbols we erect are in the proper
context. The Israelites living on the east side of the Jordan who got their inheritance
before entering into the Promised Land return home after all the battles and
erect a memorial. However, the priest and the Israelites leaders see this and
fear it will become an altar to God. A quick side note … it is a wise choice
not to jump to conclusions. I think we need to be careful to not always seek
the worst out of people. Back to our story … the Israelites affirm them that
this is not an altar but simply a memorial.
Memorials are important. They remind
us about things from our past. Our nation is full of them. Just spend an hour
in Washington D.C. you will find a plethora of them. Joshua even lead the
Israelites in the creation of one after they crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
We will see one erected during Samuel’s era called an Ebenezer stone reminding
the Israelites of how far God had brought them.
Do you have events in your life where
you could use a memorial to remind you of what God did for you? Let me caution
you though, make sure that the memorial does not become on object of worship. A
memorial is a simple reminder. Take things such as the cross … to some it is an
object of worship, but this should never be. It is a simple reminder of what God
did for us through Jesus on the cross.
At West Side we are beginning a new
prayer partner campaign. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily
for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to
receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We
appreciate your partnership.
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