Today's Passage - Joshua 4:8-10

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 4:8-10   So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day. Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over...       Stones are often mentioned in the Book of Joshua.  Stone represents testimony as well as reminder. To the Israelites at the time, this was not merely a testimony for their descendants, but also a reminder for themselves. Joshua not only followed God's command carrying twelve stones from Jordan River, he also erected twelve stones in the Jordan River, at the place where the priests who carried the Ark stood. He did this so everyone who crossed Jordan River knew that they had truly crossed the Jordan River. Those stones were a testimony to God's grace, and a reminder to Israelites that they should remember God's grace.   We need to count God's grace. Often when we memorize God's words, we forget it all soon after we memorized it. But we never forget wrongs others did to us. Psalm 90:12 says, "that we may gain a heart of wisdom." For people of this world, the most important thing is not money, because money can be earned. What a man needs the most is a wise heart. When we count God's grace, God's spirit reminds us all the works He has done on us, such that we will not forget God's work and his truthfulness. You and I shall frequently erect stones in our lives to fight against spiritual amnesia. Whenever you count God's grace, it proves that God worked before, and it reminds you that God will continue to work.   No matter how deep the water you are about to tread, God always has ways to carry you over. To each and every God's people, God will say to them in Isaiah 43:1-3, "O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God," Erect a memorial stone in your life! Bear a testimony of God's grace to yourself again and again so that you will not slip but stand firmly under the grace that God has given you.   Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, we thank you. Because you are God who blessed us with all kind of grace. May God lift up our spirit, let us remember you grace, and stand firmly in your grace without waiver.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!