Memorial Day 2013

John 15:13 (NIV): Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

 

    On Memorial Day, we set aside a weekend to remember those who have died to keep our country free. It is so appropriate that we do this. We honor those who gave "the full measure of devotion," as Abraham Lincoln said. We honor those who paid the supreme sacrifice and gave their very lives for us, the citizens of America.

    If you count up the deaths in the wars American's have fought, you will see that it is more than one million, three-hundred thousand. (If you add in the wounded, it is nearly three million.)

    How do we honor those who have died? First, by being good citizens. We do this by voting, by contributing to society, by being good neighbors, by paying our fair share of taxes, by giving back to those in need, including those who have been harmed or displaced by man-made and natural disasters. We take pride in our communities and keep our streets and property clean. We honor them by being good workers or students, doing our best and taking pride in our efforts.

    I also feel we honor those who have died for our freedom by enjoying that freedom. This may sound simplistic, but when we enjoy the freedoms our country offers, we are keeping those who died from doing so in vain. We are thankful people, then, and not self-centered or selfish. And we realize the price that has been paid. The third way we honor the fallen is by taking a moment to pause and say thanks.

    What is amazing to think about it that those men and women died for us whether we appreciate it or not. We can go about our lives completely selfish and never think about them and we are still given the same freedom. We can be terrible neighbors or citizens and yet we have the same freedom and rights to enjoy. We can even scoff at History or deny that the soldiers existed, but freedom is ours for the taking. The gift of freedom is the gift of making our own choices.

    When someone dies for you, don't let that death be in vain. And remember to pause and say thanks.

The Curse is Broken

Galatians 3: 10 - 14 (NIV): 10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." 11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

    I knew Pentecost was called "The Feast of Weeks", but I didn't realize it was also called Shavout and is celebrated by Jews as the day God gave the Law to Moses on Mt. Horeb. Originally, it was a celebration of the first wheat harvest. It fell 50 days after Passover (Pentecost is Greek for "fifty"). Israelites would bring their first fruits to the Temple of God and celebrate his goodness. But during the Exile in Babylon in 605 B.C., Israelites began to celebrate the day, not so much for the first harvest, but because it was the very day God gave Moses the law. After all, they had lost their land and could no longer plant and harvest wheat crops.

    The similarities between Mt. Horeb and Pentecost in Acts 2 are remarkable: On Mt. Horeb, there was a loud trumpet, smoke covered the mountain, the earth shook, and fire from God came down. At Pentecost there was the sound of a rushing wind, the earth shook and tongues of fire came down on those present. At Horeb, the people rebelled and created a golden calf. God punished them and "three thousand died that day." (Exodus 32: 35). At Pentecost, Peter preached and three thousand were saved.

    The law brings a curse, Paul says, because we cannot fully keep it. It is faith that saves us and always has been. Jesus broke the curse and offers life for all who believe. Now we celebrate Pentecost as the day we received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost

Acts 2: 1 - 4 (NIV): 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

    Pentacost was also called "The Feast of Weeks". It was fifty days after Passover and was a Jewish celebration holiday. It celebrated the first harvest of the year. It was one of three major Jewish Holidays that required Jewish men to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate.

    It is a major event in the life of Christian believers because it was the day the Holy Spirit came in power and the church age began. Jesus appeared on and off for 40 days after his resurrection, then ascended back to heaven.  Ten days later, the Holy Spirit came during Pentecost. After the Holy Spirit came upon the believers, Peter stood and preached to the international crowd that had gathered for the holiday. Three thousand believed in Jesus and the age of the church began. We are still in the church age and waiting for the next great event - the second-coming of Christ.

    Pentecost is a celebration of harvest, and the harvest of people's souls began on that day and continues to this one. Jesus had promised that when he went back to heaven, he would send the Holy Spirit to live in us until he comes again (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit appeared as "tongues of fire" which was symbolic of speaking God's purifying truth. A fire begins small and spreads. In the same way, the Gospel began with the disciples and continues to spread around the world. The disciples spoke in other tongues as a demonstration of God's power, and that power is still alive and active today as we wait for Jesus' return.

Mother's Day

2 Timothy 1: 5 - 7 (NIV): 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 

    The faith lived in Timothy's grandmother and then his mother and now in him. Is anyone surprised by this? Is anyone surprised that Lois passed her faith to her daughter and then Eunice passed it to her son? Isn't that how it works?

    The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. This is true because our mothers have such a tremendous influence on us. Timothy was a young preacher and Paul wrote this to encourage him as he faced the challenges that come with that. Paul, in fact, was in prison for preaching the gospel. This is undoubtedly his very last letter, just before he was executed for his faith by Nero.

    Paul says Timothy received the "gift of God" from Paul himself. This may mean Paul had ordained him to preach the Word and was letting him know that he was behind him, supporting him and praying for him as he ministered. And Paul wanted him to be brave, strong, and true to the faith. He knew that Timothy had learned to stand for his faith from his mother and grandmother. He states later in this letter (3:15), "and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Timothy had been taught the Bible since childhood and now he was a minister. Mothers and grandmothers can influence their children more than they could ever know. It's a privilege and a responsibility to teach them the Word.

    What about Timothy's father? All we know is that he was a Greek. Apparently he was not a believer. One thing we do know, though, is that it was Timothy's mother and grandmother who taught him the faith. I'm so thankful for my mother and grandmothers who showed me from infancy how important their faith was in their lives.