Joshua 4:1-13; 2 Corinthians 4:16—5:5
When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.” Joshua 6b-7
16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, 18 because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. 2 Cor 16-18
Those stones, ‘a memorial forever’, don’t seem to still be standing. I guess times changed between testaments, because Paul’s statements do not seem too pro-stony memorial. He seems to regard things that can be seen as temporary (look at my active listening skills!), and temporary things don’t lend themselves too well to being memorials forever.
To be fair, Joshua had a different audience. The Israelites seemed to have memory issues, judging by how often they forgot the covenant, so having visible reminders in their environment was probably useful; the early Christian church was, presumably, a bit more invested (especially the Gentiles) because they had all opted in individually instead of being Chosen by virtue of lineage. They needed guidance, sure – but not memorials.
I need both. A couple of weeks ago, I was trying to figure out how to remember God throughout my workday. I do really well with my morning routine, but then I get caught up in the trappings of daily life and fail to recognize that God’s still with me while I reset my Pomodoro timer and work my way through my To-Dos.
I’ve tried adding memorials; one of the computer backgrounds in my rotating slideshow features the words “Remember God” in a modern font emblazoned atop an inspiring mountain scene. I have a Slack reminder that pops up on weekday afternoons with the same message.
But the computer background cycles to the next one, and the Slack reminder gets buried under a million more. They are seen, but they are temporary. Luckily, that which cannot be seen is not.
— MeganPrestonMeyer
When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.” Joshua 6b-7
16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, 18 because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. 2 Cor 16-18
Those stones, ‘a memorial forever’, don’t seem to still be standing. I guess times changed between testaments, because Paul’s statements do not seem too pro-stony memorial. He seems to regard things that can be seen as temporary (look at my active listening skills!), and temporary things don’t lend themselves too well to being memorials forever.
To be fair, Joshua had a different audience. The Israelites seemed to have memory issues, judging by how often they forgot the covenant, so having visible reminders in their environment was probably useful; the early Christian church was, presumably, a bit more invested (especially the Gentiles) because they had all opted in individually instead of being Chosen by virtue of lineage. They needed guidance, sure – but not memorials.
I need both. A couple of weeks ago, I was trying to figure out how to remember God throughout my workday. I do really well with my morning routine, but then I get caught up in the trappings of daily life and fail to recognize that God’s still with me while I reset my Pomodoro timer and work my way through my To-Dos.
I’ve tried adding memorials; one of the computer backgrounds in my rotating slideshow features the words “Remember God” in a modern font emblazoned atop an inspiring mountain scene. I have a Slack reminder that pops up on weekday afternoons with the same message.
But the computer background cycles to the next one, and the Slack reminder gets buried under a million more. They are seen, but they are temporary. Luckily, that which cannot be seen is not.
— MeganPrestonMeyer
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