Embracing Grace and Truth

July 6

Embracing Grace and Truth by Denise J. Hughes

“He told them, ‘Go into the middle of the Jordan,
in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder – twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, What do these stones mean? Then you can tell them, They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:5-7

The Things That Remind Us . . .

A souvenir reminds us of a trip we went on. A photo album reminds us of a holiday we celebrated. A yearbook reminds us of the classmates we went to school with.

These keepsakes serve as reminders. Because it’s important to remember special moments.

In the Old Testament, we read about the Israelites’ journey. From slavery to the Promised Land. God parted the waters of the Red Sea as they walked out of Egypt. And He parted the waters of the Jordan River as they walked into Canaan.

And here, the moment they step foot onto the Promised Soil, God tells them to take up twelve stones from the dry riverbed and build a memorial — a memorial to serve as a reminder of their deliverance out of bondage and into freedom.

God is still in the business of delivering His people out of messes and into beauty. And when we call to mind what He’s done for us, we can’t help but thank Him and praise Him.

Some people write special dates in the margins of their Bible. These dates serve as reminders of when God brought them out of one thing and into something far better.

Mementos and keepsakes can come in many forms. They can be simple things that remind us of God’s goodness to us.

Today, let’s remember what God has brought us out of and into. And let’s give Him thanks.

Do you have a special “memorial” or keepsake that reminds you of a moment in time when God showed His great love and mercy toward you?