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If you think back over your week, there probably was a time when you forgot something. Maybe it was you forgot to pick up something at the store. You forgot to say something to a friend or co-worker. Or even, you forgot a special day. Memorial Day is that day that reminds us to remember. Remember those who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. We have a pattern of forgetfulness. Maybe its in how fast paced our lives have become but we not only forget the simple things we forget the all important spiritual things in our lives. This weekend, we will gather to remember and worship the God who remembers.
If you were asked to make a choice and you could either choose life or death, you probably would adamantly say, “I choose life.” Good choice! Now, what if having that life meant putting your all into a relationship where that person would protect you, provide for you, love you, and even die for you? Are you all in for life? God has arranged it all, everything so that you may have life and it is through His Son, Jesus Christ. Life comes through Him, by putting your all into a relationship with Him.
There are so many things in our lives and in the world that capture our attention. We can either focus on all that is wrong and all that I want or we can remain true and focus on what God has in store through His purpose and plan and for His glory and honor. That’s what we’re coming together to learn from God’s word about this weekend— where is your focus? Keeping our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of the faith is necessary and we can only do that by being reminded that our focus is Christ.
We’ve been told over and again that we are never alone and that God is with us each and every day, through the thick and thin. And yet, there are days when we don’t feel Him near and wonder, “Does God even see me?” The Lord God, His name is El Roi, the God who sees me. Through the life of Hagar we understand that in our lowest moments, God sees our pain. He hears our cries. We can then rest in knowing God is never unaware of what we are going through. God doesn’t promise a quick fix to our problems, but He sees us and also sees the larger picture in His plan for you.
We are privileged. We know this side of the story of Jesus, but the Disciples of the day didn’t. I can hear them say: We thought He was going to deliver Israel from its captors. We thought He was going to usher in a new kingdom, a new government. We thought since He was a man of God that our lives would be free. And yet, it IS because He was our sacrifice we can know true freedom. It IS because He rose again, we can know new life. It IS because He came that we can know eternal life. We thought a lot of things about Christ— His coming, His ministry, His crucifixion and resurrection. Well, today you and I can know without a doubt that He lives and reigns forever and ever.
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