9/11-Remember

Last night I watched the history channel's chronicle of 9/11/01. For America it was an aweful day. Seven years later, the dust has settled, and we have moved past the immediacy of the tragedy. Since that day there have been many more tragedies, millions have died, war has raged, ethnic cleansing continues to ravage nations, the unborn continue to be slaughtered and on and on the list could go. There is so much death and destruction that we become numb to it. Unless it touches us directly, we can merely change the channel and get mired down in our own little story. In American history we mark certain days to help us 'remember.' If we truly remember, it should impact how we live today. If the remembering is merely a ceremony, then we have forgotten. The remembering should make me a different person today and tomorrow. The remembering should move me to action today, tomorrow. The remembering should impact more than my emotions. Paul told Timothy to 'Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David (2 Tim. 2:8). In Luke 22:19 Jesus said the taking of the bread was to be done in remembrance of Him. (Paul emphasized the same in 1 Corinthians 10). The whole picture of the Lord's supper is to remember Christ's life given for us. The issue before us is this. Does the remembering impact my journey today? Does the remembering of the Christ, His sacrifice and life, make any difference in my attitudes and actions today? Jesus said the Holy Spirit would remind us of everthing He said (John 14:26). Peter multiple times in His epistles speaks of reminding his audience of the truth they have received in Christ. As Americans may remembering 9/11 make us more diligent as citizens. As followers of Jesus Christ, may remembering Christ and His life compel us to excellence in our daily journey.