Remember Jesus
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:18-21 NKJV.
Everything about Christmas inspires and excites me. I never tire of the reminders everywhere of the Christmas message.
I was reading in Joshua 4, how the Lord instructed him to set up twelve stones, after they’d crossed the Jordan river. What were they for? They were to be stones or remembrance, or memorial stones. Why? So that people could answer the questions of the next generation about what they were for. The answer was that they would be a reminder of all the Lord had done in delivering His people. They were to be reminders of the story of all that God had done, and ultimately so that they might know that God is God, and that they may know Him.
… that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” Joshua 4:24 NKJV.
The Israelites were to set up memorials, for five reasons, (that I can think of).
- Words – To serve as reminders His words, all the things He had spoken to them. What do we do to remember the words of God?
- Works – To serve as reminders, of His works, all the things He had done among them. What He’s done before He can do again. What do we do to remember His works, the things He’s done?
- Worship – To inspire worship and that they would give God the glory, that He is their God. What is there that inspires us to worship?
- Willingness – To continue to obey His commands. What is there that reminds us to obey, and do the things the Lord wants us to do?
- Wisdom – To pass on these truths to the generations that followed. What are we doing, or supporting, to pass on to the next generation the ways of God?
The Christian life is about remembering. Not forgetting. (True, there are some things we are to forget but there are more things we are to remember). Bringing back to mind the things God has said and done. Remembering is a big part of who we are. We remember, and recall, we refresh our mind in the things of God.
We use memorials, objects, and words, to refresh our memory. We use signs and symbols as triggers to bring back to mind the things we don’t want to forget. There are many things in our modern world that serve as reminders. The Cross, Christmas, Easter, birthdays, songs, the rings we wear, communion, candles, and many other things. These things are effectively memorials.
The Christmas season is packed with memorials. From the Christmas tree, to the Nativity scene, to the Christmas carols played and sung, to the giving and receiving of presents. And of course there’s always lots of food! There’s variations depending on culture, but they all speak in a sense, of some part of the incredible Christmas story.
Every Christmas I am amazed and inspired, thrilled, and humbled, when I see and hear and experience all the things we do around the Christmas season. They remind me of the incredible lengths God went to, so that I could know I am loved by Almighty God, that I can have my sins forgiven by the Saviour, that I can live this life with His Spirit in me, and confidently look forward to living with Him forever in the next life.
When the next generation ask us what do these things of Christmas mean, or what does this or that special thing in our lives mean, we can have an answer for them. We can tell them of the goodness of God, of His love, of all that He has done for us, of His grace and how He loves us and lives in us.
Christmas. What a great memorial. What a great reminder.
Thank you for being part of the Brief Word family. Our prayer is that these words will bring encouragement, hope, blessing and insight. Wherever you are in the world, we pray by God’s grace that Brief Word is a helpful part of your spiritual journey.
We have had a big and busy year, but we thank God for His sustaining grace and blessing.
There are many opportunities before us, and the Lord is graciously leading us into new areas of ministry. It is exciting, so we are trusting the Lord to clearly guide and abundantly provide for the things He leads us into.
Please pray for us, that God will continue to strengthen, guide and provide for us and that His touch upon our lives will keep us strong and healthy in every way. Thank you.
Let’s not forget that Jesus is our Saviour.
May God bless you and your loved ones this Christmas time. May your love and service for Him touch many around you.
Many blessings from our place to yours,
Stephen & Wendy
