ALTARS OF REMEMBRANCE

Today's reading: Joshua 21-24

"So we decided to build the altar, not for burnt sacrifices, but as a memorial. It will remind our descendants and your descendants that we, too, have the right to worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and peace offerings. Then your descendants will not be able to say to ours, You have no claim to the Lord." Joshua 22:26-27 NLT

The tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh had chosen land on the other side of the Jordan River. The land, they found, to be suitable for their flocks and herds. But they helped the remaining tribes conquer and settle the Promised Land before they went back to live on their pieces of land.

This altar they build, as stated in the morning's passage, was a reminder--to them and to the rest of Israel.

That they were all one family.

That they were God's children.

That they had the privilege and charge of worshiping with them in the Tabernacle.

Maybe we need a few of these altars in our churches today.

Monuments that remind us of God's grace and mercy extended to ourselves--and to those who aren't like us?

Piles of rocks that call to our memory that the same blood of Jesus saved us as saved 'them'?

Reminders that in God's sight we're all the same, we're all His and we're all sinners needing a Savior?

Because there are days we forget. There are times we hold too tightly to our religions to remember our loving God. There are moments in time when we set ourselves on pedestals that rise just a smidge higher than the pedestals of others.