In Remembrance

"I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God....And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you" (Luke 22:14b, 19-20a).

Two things occurred in the last two days that reminded me of things long gone by. First, I received an invitation to my high school class reunion. This post card, (why did they not send it in an envelope?) read by many on the trip to my mailbox, had in big bold letters: 50th class reunion! Hey, I have been hiding my age, well except for a few wrinkles, and some gray hair on my head and a gray beard (We just gray early in my family, just ask my brother, I would say sisters but with all the color I'm not so sure that they are gray, I won't ask, I value my life), and am now retired. Second, this morning on the internet, (I read the local news section) was one of our writers with some nostalgia, Ronnie Milsap singing "Lost in the Fifties Again." This writers oped brought back memories than only we who lived through those times can really appreciate. Such things like, Ipana toothpaste, toys at the bottom of cereal boxes, the Lone Ranger, the girls doing "hopscotch", (notice I said girls, boys wouldn't get caught doing "hopscotch'). Life was more simple then, or did it seem simple because I was so young? Nonetheless, memories flooded into my mind and I longed for that more simple time of life.

Remembrance is an important part of our lives, and Jesus asked us to do just that, remember, not just his life here on earth but why He came. He "eagerly desired", to bring to this world salvation. He knew that the way was by means of the cross. NO, He did not eagerly seek the pain and suffering, His prayer in Gethsemane is a heartfelt cry to God that if that part of his mission could be avoided to please do so. God the Father chose not to remove from His Son that part of the crucifixion. After the prayer Jesus rose to His feet, met the soldiers and the betrayer Judas, one who had walked with Him for some three years, and went without a fight to His appointed time. His love for us was greater than His need to avoid the crucifixion.

I do not want to get "Lost In The Fifties Again", can't anyway time has moved on and we are now in a culture that has moved past that time. Not all for the good though, for I see a new message preached in the church. It seems for many preachers that they preach this abundant, prosperous life. We can have it now, just follow some formula, and buy their books. Many of the new songs are all about us, what we can get out of this life. Where are the songs, "The Old Rugged Cross"; Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling", "It Took A Miracle", and so on, that speak of what Jesus did for us. At this time of the year my remembrance is about the cross, for without that event in history; where would we be? We do remember all that Jesus performed, and all of his promises, but we cannot allow ourselves to get "Lost In Them" only allow them to drive us to become more like our Savior Jesus. If God did not remove the pain and suffering, the cross, from His Son, then we must not expect that God will remove all the pain and suffering from us. It was for the better Good that Jesus died on that cross, removing all the suffering there would be no hope for mankind. God is sovereign, we must allow that, and trust Him, faith is all about trust, and trust requires faith.

Let us remember the Cross. We we partake of the Lord's Supper, remember Him, on the cross for you and me. It is good to remember, so I will play more songs from the 50's this morning and remember the good times, and pray that God will continue His work in me at this time. Thanking Him for bringing me this far even though at times I traveled far from Him and He was not in my remembrance. I want to remember!

Daily Prayer:

Father, You saw Your Son, our Savior, beaten, spit upon, cut to the bone with lashes from a whip, and then nailed to a wooden stake. Nails driven through his hands and feet, hecklers on the sidelines, and You allowed all that to happen just for me, so that I could have an eternity with You by my faith and trust in Jesus' sacrifice. Keep reminding me of that: the world moved on and for many they do not understand the why. Help me to show them through my life what it means to have You in my life and their need for salvation.             Amen