STONES OF REMEMBRANCE | "Semi-retired" Pastor Frank

Week Fifty, 2024

For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God (Joshua 3:23-24).

Christians are a people with a story, and the Christian experience is to take your part in the story. It tells us who God is and who we are. We should stick with God’s agenda and live as faithful participants in His grand drama. The book of Joshua teaches us that lesson. It comes on the heels of the great exodus from Egypt, following a forty-year journey in exile in the wilderness.

As Joshua leads the thousands into the promised land, he wants to leave a sign for those yet to come in generations following what the Lord did to set them in a new free land. He gave specific instructions to gather twelve stones and build a memorial of remembrance to be a reminder of generations to follow.

Twelve men hoisted heavy stones to their shoulders from Jordan’s floor and then piled them together in the Promised Land, by God’s command. They were stacked there as a sign, an unmistakable marker at the very place where God had demonstrated His power to overcome any obstacle to His will.

Then God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until all had crossed over, just as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up. This is what happens when the impossible meets the promises of God. This is the outcome when the implausible comes up against the glorious riches of God in Christ Jesus.

This history teaches up three points:

1. It’s all about God.

Seeing that rock pile and hearing the story, the people of Israel would know clearly that they had not crossed Jordan on their own. Those stones cried out, “God did this! By His hand we have forded this river. By His power and faithfulness, we have accomplished this!”

2. We have a missionary purpose.

Joshua told Israel that the stones would serve as a reminder that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord’s hand is mighty, and so that you may always fear the Lord your God.” (v. 24) Let no one be confused. We have no mission here, but the Great Commission. These buildings aren’t memorials to us, but to Him! We exist to know God and make Him known. Our buildings exist, not to make us comfortable or proud, but for God’s glory and the gospel’s advance.

3. We must change if we want to go with God.

The stones out of the Jordan marked the movements of God among His people. They testified of the willingness of a people to leave what they had known in order to go with God, to face challenges to their faith, to step into the water, to believe in what they could not see.

We cannot yet see how God will do it, but we believe He is faithful. It’s time to venture with God into His future for us.

Look to this memorial in the days ahead and hear the message they preach: This is all about God and His glory; it is about the missionary purpose for which we exist; it is about the challenge to change so that God can manifest His glory more fully through us.

What is your mission and how committed are you to it?

Sometimes True Stories

Joshua Ensley, a young preacher in a small town in Georgia, provided this summary of why the Ten Commandments are still relevant. While certain aspects of these laws may seem antiquated, their core principles are profoundly relevant today:

1. No Other Gods (Exodus 20:3): In our modern era, the First Commandment’s call to put God first is as pertinent as ever. Our society often places material goods, celebrity culture, and personal desires above devotion to God. This commandment serves as a reminder that all these things are fleeting and can never replace the ultimate satisfaction that comes from a relationship with God.

2. No Idols (Exodus 20:4-6): Idolatry takes many forms today—money, fame, self, and even relationships. This commandment calls us back to the reality that only God is worthy of our ultimate devotion and worship.

3. Do Not Take God’s Name in Vain (Exodus 20:7): This commandment often goes beyond mere speech. It condemns claiming to be a follower of God while living a life contrary to His teachings. By doing so, one bears God’s name in vain and misrepresents Him to the world.

4. Remember the Sabbath Day, to Keep It Holy (Exodus 20:8-11): The Sabbath, specifically the seventh day of the week, remains a critical element of Christian worship. It serves as a weekly reset for spiritual and physical well-being, reminding us of our creation and redemption.

5. Honor Your Father and Mother (Exodus 20:12): In a world that often undermines the family structure, this commandment reiterates the significance of maintaining familial bonds, which are essential for social stability and individual development.

6. You Shall Not Murder (Exodus 20:13): This commandment upholds the sanctity of life. Amid societal debates on issues like euthanasia, abortion, and capital punishment, it serves as a stark reminder that every life is valuable in God’s eyes.

7. You Shall Not Commit Adultery (Exodus 20:14): In an age of casual relationships and shifting views on marriage, this commandment stands as an enduring testament to the importance of marital fidelity and the sanctity of the marriage covenant.

8. You Shall Not Steal (Exodus 20:15): With issues like corporate corruption, online piracy, and theft prevalent today, this commandment’s call for personal and communal integrity has never been more important.

9. You Shall Not Bear False Witness (Exodus 20:16): In a world of misinformation and fake news, this commandment’s directive to uphold truth resonates powerfully. It underpins the trust that is foundational for any thriving community.

10. You Shall Not Covet (Exodus 20:17): In a culture driven by consumerism and social comparison, this final commandment encourages us to find contentment in God alone, rather than constantly seeking more. While society changes, the inherent wisdom and guidance found in the Ten Commandments remain steadfast. These divine laws are not obsolete; rather, they continue to provide a moral framework that is remarkably relevant for modern living. By adhering to these enduring principles, we not only honor God but also establish a more just and compassionate society.

Quotes You Can Use

Most days, our peace feels elusive and our hope light years away—and it is almost impossible to set our minds on God’s coming reign. But what if the return of Jesus, the King, and His Kingdom is exactly what we need to find our peace and ground our hope today? His coming victorious reign is what gives us the strength that we need for today. David Jeremiah

Use your freedom, but don’t abuse your freedom. Edgar Aponte

It takes a significant amount of courage to march to the beat of a different drum when there are twenty other drummers trying to drown out the truth. Dwight Short

You should preach the Gospel to yourself every day. Jim Wilson

Now more than ever, people are searching… searching for hope…searching for peace… searching for something to help them overcome the hate and the fear that is so prevalent in our day and time.

Now more than ever people are searching for God, whether they realize it or not.

Now more than ever, we are in need of men and women of faith to step out of the darkness and into the light, willing to share their faith… their hearts… their lives.

Now more than ever, we need believers to get off the bench and get out of the pew and put their faith to work… to do something…

One man… One woman… with faith… can make a difference. With Jesus, we can do all things. Marty Stubblefield

Jesus was not, and is not, against wealth or stuff in and of itself—unless it becomes our god!

Relying on your own performance to be accepted by God will never work. Trust in Jesus alone. Andrew Evans

Just a little tolerated sin can permeate through the whole body, rotting it away from the inside out. Dan Shock

We need to proclaim and defend the Gospel even if that means confronting both false teachers and fellow believers. Edgar Aponte

God is like oxygen. You can’t see him, but you need Him to survive.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

There’s freedom in Christ, but don’t allow your freedom to compromise the Gospel. Be discerning. Edgar Aponte

My sinful nature and my desire for a holy, godly nature are at odds. And a battle ensues on a daily, even moment-by-moment basis. I desire to do what is good and right and pure. And at the same time, I desire to do what is worldly and sinful. I hate my worldly desires… I love my godly desires, but all too often I do what I hate and I don’t do what I love. Marty Stubblefield

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