Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

I salute and thank the retired and active military, as well as appreciate those who served and have passed away. The sacrifice and service of the brave men and women who defend our country is something I honor and respect greatly.

This day, set aside by the United States to remember, is the inspiration for this week’s theme. This week, let’s take time to remember and honor the Lord Our God. Let’s begin today with one of the most memorable reminders in scripture.

Today’s scripture, Luke 24:5‭-‬8 NLT
(NLT) says…
The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” Then they remembered that he had said this.

Consider…
When the Holy Spirit gave me this week’s theme, today’s song immediately began to play in my mind. It’s the musical recitation of Jesus’ resurrection promise fulfillment, as told in Matthew 28.

Although it would be totally appropriate to remember Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection that gave, and gives us victory over sin, the Holy Spirit took me a different direction and told me to make remembering ‘what He said’ as the lean in.

Last week, I thoroughly enjoyed showing love to the Holy Spirit. And as I write today, one of the things I remember Jesus saying was…
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. – John 14:26 NLT

Notice the Holy Spirit teaches and reminds everything that Jesus said.

Don’t miss that connection. In school, teachers explain previously taught lessons chronicled in text books. In the same way, the Holy Spirit explains all the lessons chronicled in scripture, which He inspired, that Jesus taught while living among us here on earth.

Jesus expounds on the Holy Spirit reminding us of what Jesus said, in John 16:13‭-‬15 (NLT)…
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’

Wait a minute, if the third person of the Trinity won’t speak on His own, but only what Jesus said, why are so many people inclined to give their editorials on what God meant instead of saying only what He said.

God doesn’t need us to rewrite His word, He just wants us to tell it like He wrote it.

So let’s do just that. Jesus said…

• “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. – John 14:6 NLT. Notice, Jesus said He’s the only way to the Father. Jesus is focused on bringing us into relationship with the Father, not just getting us into His house (heaven). So when we’re evangelizing, remember what He said, and let people know that our Heavenly Father wants an up close and personal relationship with them, by way of His Son.
• “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. – Matthew 5:17 NLT. When we’re tempted to rewrite or contemporize God’s commands, remember what He, the original Lawgiver, said. He said that He came to accomplish the spirit of the law, not follow the letter. That’s why He also said that all the laws hang on the two greatest commandments, which are to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37-40).
• “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. – John 11:25 NLT. Remember what He said, that He is our hope for the everlasting life promised in John 3:16.
• “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. – Matthew 5:43‭-‬45 NLT. Remember what He said, that we are to love everyone, regardless of if they love us. He can say that, because that’s exactly what He did, according to Romans 5:10. When we remember and obey what Jesus said, we’ll discover love can turn enemies into friends.
• “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. – Matthew 6:14‭-‬15 NLT. Remember what he said and forgive others, otherwise don’t waste your time asking God for forgiveness. And we are to forgive like God, which means that we should move forward and stop looking back. After all, when God forgives it’s because He sees His Son, not what we’ve done. Perhaps that’s why we struggle to forgive, we’re not looking at Jesus, when we see our offenders. Forgive as much, and often, and completely as you want to be forgiven by God.

Of course we could go on and on about remembering what Jesus said, but the point isn’t to list everything He said, but instead encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to teach and remind you what Jesus said in every situation you encounter. Just knowing, God has scripture for every situation, should inspire you to seek to learn and apply everything God said to everything you experience.

On this Memorial Day, let’s pause and once again replay Donald Lawrence’s retweet of what Jesus said…

Remember how He said while He was yet in Galilee
I’ll rise, I’ll rise, Again

Speaking of Jesus rising as He said, we know He ascended into Heaven and is coming back as He said. In the meantime, this Memorial Day is a good day to remember Colossians 3:1 (NLT), which reminds us…
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

Always focus on Christ, and remember what He said!

Today’s song is…
Matthew 28

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)