"The truth is, we have built this altar because we fear that in the future your descendants will say to ours, 'What right do you have to worship the Lord, the God of Israel?' ... So we decided to build the altar, not for burnt offerings or for sacrifices, but as a memorial. It will remind our descendants and your descendants that we, too, have the right to worship the Lord at His sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings" (Joshua 22:24-27).
Today is Memorial Day in America. We remember those who have fought and died that we might live in the freedom we have, only because of their sacrifice and service for us. And this is a day to not only remember them, but also to remind ourselves and our descendants of this great gift of freedom we have - freedom to worship You and speak our mind, even speak Your name wherever we are, to live the life we choose according to whatever values we embrace in this land where our leaders and warriors are sworn to protect and defend these rights of freedom we hold so dear.
In Joshua's day the people of Israel were divided by a river that ran through the land. They were afraid there might come a day that a river might run through their memories and hearts, dividing them from each other and their common heritage of one nation under God (v. 28-29). And in our day, let us remember our common heritage and our common hope to live in a land that still sees freedom as a great gift worth preserving and defending with all we have and all that we are.
Freedom is the redemptive gift of our land, as a witness to this world. Let us repent of every way we have not always honored the great freedom we have or the men and women who have fought and died for us to live in the land of the free. And let us remember the descendants of generations to come who are to have this same gift and godly heritage we are to protect and defend, in the power of Your grace, for them to embrace and enjoy. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Healing Rooms of Lexington Prayer Ministry Team Training, Saturday June 4th. Please send Linda Dulin-Moore a note if you'd like to join us in this ministry: PrayerLead@messiah-ministries.org (our pastor of prayer ministries and associate director of the Healing Rooms of Lexington).
Friends, you're invited to a Saturday Cook-out June 11th in Lexington to share about my ministry trip to Africa in August, preaching the gospel in outdoor festifvals and teaching a Pastor and Leaders conference with Wesley Paul Minsitries. Please send me a note if you'd be interested. We will also be celebrating my 50th birthday and there's no better gift than the encouragement of my friends in my passion to share the love and power of Jesus around the world! tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org
