This Monday, hundreds of thousands of people throughout our country will gather at cemeteries and in homes to remember and honor those who have served and died for our freedom. Memorial Day, first called “Decoration Day,” began during the American Civil War as communities held tributes and decorated the graves of fallen troops. The month of May was chosen for the holiday because flowers would be in bloom and available for decorating grave sites. The holiday became official by an act of Congress in 1967.

Memorial Day is held so that we never forget those on whose shoulders we stand – those who have sacrificed for our freedom! We are forever grateful!

As with Memorial Day, we hold special occasions and holidays in order to remember, because the reality is … we tend to forget.

This is certainly true in our lives of faith. We often forget. It’s why, sprinkled throughout Scripture, we find not just suggestions, but commands, to REMEMBER. In fact, a quick Google search produced that the word ‘remember’ is used 352 times. For example…

• “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8).
• “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.” (Deut. 5:15)
• “Remember what Moses the LORD’s servant commanded you when he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest, and he will give you this land’” (Josh. 1:13).

Our recent sermon series on Deuteronomy was all about Israel remembering – and not forgetting – the Lord when they entered the land God had promised. You might also remember that when the people crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, they were instructed to take 12 stones and erect a memorial to the Lord that would serve as a reminder. And of course, the words of Jesus come to mind every time we celebrate Holy Communion together – “Do this in remembrance of me.”

When it comes to our lives in Christ, taking time to intentionally remember what God has done is essential as it transforms and aligns our hearts toward God. In Scripture, we see again and again how, when Israel forgets, their hearts become hard.  Remembering lifts our hearts and keeps them soft toward God.

Remembering also keeps us tethered to the future, giving us hope and a future. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” Looking at what God has done in the past gives us confidence, not only that God is at work in the present moment, but that He will return at just the right time to be with us into the future.

Jesus is going to return. He’s going to perfectly and completely fulfill every promise He has made. He’s going to win!

This week, as we celebrate and give thanks for the men and women who gave their lives for our freedom, make time to remember what God has done and reflect on the One – Jesus – who gave His life so that we might have life – abundantly and eternally.

Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus our Savior!