Living Stones

It is hard to believe that summer is almost here and that Memorial Day is just weeks away. It is awe inspiring to walk the rows of Arlington cemetery and see the markers that stand as a testimony to the lives sacrificed for our Nation’s freedom and defense.

Our Bible Study group has been working through some of Ray Vander Laan’s video studies. One of his series “Standing at the Crossroads” focuses on the standing stones of the Bible. The Hebrew word massebah is translated standing stones and means, to set up. To honor their covenant with God, the Israelites set up standing stones as a reminder of God’s supernatural acts on their behalf. The Bible records several of these significant events: (Ex. 24:2—4) (Josh. 4:2—3, 8—9) (Josh. 24:27).

Several years ago a friend gave us a book on how to unify the family. One of the suggestions was to collect stones from different places as a memorial. We now have quite a collection of stones and often use them to remind ourselves of life’s victories and sometimes defeats. Every time we move the movers always think I am crazy when I have them pack all of our rocks.

I have a large piece of petrified wood that Paul purchased for me when he returned from Iraq. It is a reminder that God was working in me to make me stronger during the year Paul was deployed. I honestly believe that year was one of the hardest in my life, Paul was deployed, I had a hysterectomy, and most of the year encompassed my Dad’s last months of life and ultimately his death. However, I grew more in my faith during that year as I was forced to rely on the Lord to see me through. I changed just like the petrified wood to stone. Not hardened but stronger and better equipped to the ministry God has called me to.

If we faithfully obey God, we will be like standing stones. Nonbelievers will notice that our lives are different. But if we fail to explain why we are different, we become ineffective, silent stones. I Peter 2:5 challenges us to be living, not silent, standing stones. We can and should testify to the amazing things God has done for us.

As Memorial Day approaches I want to encourage you to remember your life’s journey. Take time to reflect on how God has grown you into a living stone. Challenge yourself to be a living stone; God has placed YOU in a sphere of influence. No matter how large or small that influence may be, you can act in a way that shows others "the Lord is God."