Lest We Forget


"Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' then you shall say to them, 'Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD' ... So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever" (Jos. 4:6-7).

  1. What should we remember: when God SHOWED UP
    "Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers ... [with] houses full of all good things which you did not fill ... vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, then watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Deut. 6:10-12).

    "Now the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord ... who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him ... that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the Lord had commanded" (1 Kings 11:9-10).

  2. Why should we remember: builds our CONFIDENCE for the future.
    "Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering ... So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised" (Heb. 10:32, 35-36 NIV).

    "In the future your children will ask, 'What do these stones mean?' ... [Tell] them, 'This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and He kept it dry until you were all across, just as He did at the Red Sea ... so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord's hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever" (Jos. 4:21-24 NLT).

  3. How should we remember: by our LIFESTYLE.
    "So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan ... that you shall set up for yourself large stones ... and write on them all the words of this law ..." (Deut. 27:2-3)

    " ... you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house ... Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you ... they may because of your good deeds ... glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Pt. 2:5, 12).