Symbols
Joshua 22:34, “The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad called the altar Witness; “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the LORD is God.”
The sons of Gad, Reuben and half the tribe of the sons Manasseh did not take part in the land of Canaan; instead Moses gave them land on the west side of the Jordan, but the warriors were compelled to cross the Jordan to fight beside their brothers. As the land of Canaan was delivered by God into the hands of the Israelites, the warriors that came over with them left. As they were leaving they stopped to build an altar. The altar they built was to serve as a reminder to them and their children of what God had done, and as a symbol for the future that there was a connection between them.
Symbols can be very strong! They serve as a reminder of what we love. Every summer I have the privilege to work at Camp Hawkins, a camp in North Georgia for developmentally disabled kids. There are several “camp songs” that we sing up there, and all morning I have had one song going through my mind. “If I were not at Camp Hawkins” is a silly song that I really get tired of singing, but right now as I’m preparing for camp; it’s a reminder of how much I love camp, and being with the other workers and kids.
As I’ve mentioned here before I am handicapped due to a car wreck I had as a teenager. The accident affected my voice; as a result I have a very high-pitched laugh. It’s really not a laugh; I don’t know what you would call it. Anyway, when I was in college I had a friend who every time I saw would “laugh” at me , and I would “laugh” back. I know people thought we were crazy, but we were sharing a symbol that reminded us of our friendship, and the bonds that we had in common as Christians.
Symbols remind us of the past we have, the things we have now and the future that is waiting on us. Whether they cause us to think on good things, or on bad things symbols are one of the most powerful reminders we have.
There is one great symbol that all Christians share, and that is the cross of Christ. It stirs up many different emotions. At times it can bring up in us the feeling of pride as we remember that God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us, and at other times we have a feeling of shame and guilt when we think about the ways that we have failed Him.
Whatever feeling you may have; remember that God loves you and the cross proves His love. And it is the only way to Him. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.24″For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.”
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Father God, I thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your Son to die for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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The image above can be found at:http://www.turnbacktogod.com/september-14-triumph-of-the-holy-cross/
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