Memorials, Their Essence.
Luke 22
KJV
19+ And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
The question of how we would be remembered is a question about “ memorials “What is there to serve as your memorial? It should not be your tombstone., it should be something beyond this!
Truly, not many cared about this but beloved, we must pause and reflect on this important subject. Memorials.
If memorials are not important, why would the Lord and several others we read about in the Bible take time to institute them?
Beloved, how one would be remembered ( a memorial ) can be a conscious or an unconscious decision!
You can decide how you should be remembered by being specific as is the case with the Lord From the passage above, the Lord was specific in what should be done as a memorial
Another example is that of Absalom the renegade son of David, in his case, he was interested in having his name remembered by an object. Read it;
2 Samuel 18
KJV
18+ Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
Joshua And Israel ;
Joshua 4:6-7
NIV
[6] to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?'
[7] tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
Samuel and Israel ;
1 Samuel 7
KJV
12+ Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben–ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.
We see similar examples around us, buildings with names inscribed on them. Statues and benevolent acts are another. These are conscious and deliberate decisions to immortalize or keep a person’s memory alive.
What this means is you can institute, erect, construct etc in your lifetime an edifice or a practice as a memorial and instruct family members to keep and maintain it.
Jesus left us with the Supper as a memorial and as often as we break the Bread and drink of the fruit of the Vine we are remembering Him ( his death); till He returns.
On the other hand, there are acts of remembrance ( memorials) that come into existence unconsciously! One never instructed nor instituted them rather posterity brings them into being by way of remembering someone
Biblically we see these from the following;
Dorcas, was associated with benevolent acts.
Acts 9:39
NIV
[39] Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
The unnamed woman; also a benevolent act
Mark 14:8-9
NIV
[8] She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. [9] Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Scriptures abound in many such examples but time and space will not allow for a full presentation.
Now, what should be your memorial? It can be a conscious or an unconscious decision. You can initiate a benevolent act and instruct generations after you to continue as a memorial!
A fund, a scholarship, a “ widows mite” project or program etc a specific one. Or build a KVIP, a classroom block, etc anything that seeks to promote the well-being of humanity.
Here is what we should know about a memorial act. A memorial is not about “self glorification” No! But as an example to be emulated; a practical lesson for all to learn!
For example, Jesus did not institute the Supper to glorify Himself, he does not need self-glorification He is God! Instead, He did it to confirm in practice what He taught His followers Read this ;
John 15
KJV
13+ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
This is what the Lord’s Supper was meant to confirm in practice; and what we should learn, practice etc as believers. He died that we may live. He gave that we may have.
Unfortunately, we’ve missed the essence of the memorial. We observe the Supper but live opposite lives. We miss the lessons it was meant to illustrate-laying down our lives for one another.
Beloved, memorials ( remembrances) are not meant to glorify but to teach the virtues lived and pursued by the one whose memorial is being observed.
A street name does not glorify the person whose name is on the plate but brings to mind what he lived and died for. It is meant to inspire, challenge etc.
I know a Sister who on every birthday goes to offer free service to an elderly person, she sweeps, cleans, tidies up the home, buys and prepares soup /food etc and eats with the particular elderly person of choice.
This is her memorial.
I know of another who takes food items every birthday to the mental hospital! This is his memorial.
After reading these what comes to mind? Yes, your memorial should inspire and be an example to others. Whatever you do is not ( should not) be meant to glorify or show how rich you are but rather to serve as an example of what should be done.
This is why Jesus indicated who we should invite to a celebration;
Luke 14:12-14
NIV
[12] Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.
[13] But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, [14] and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
This may seem difficult, not at all He is saying “ blend the invited “ let the invited be made up of the rich and the poor “. One will invite you to his party on another day, the other will not.
To the one who will not, what you’ve done will be your memorial! So you see what the Lord meant?
Leave a Memorial.
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