Celebrate and Remember

Our Story

Our story is one of God saving his people from wickedness. He has done this by various means many times throughout history. Each situation was different in context but similar in theme. As God's children through faith in Christ we are the beneficiaries of god's saving acts. As a result we should consistently celebrate and remember God's mighty acts.

God's Work

The Lord saved his people through Moses in the Exodus. He saved them through King David after the reign of Saul. He saved them through King Josiah for a time. He saved them through the bravery of Nehemiah. He saved them through the faith of Esther. Finally, and most importantly, the Lord saved his people from wickedness through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each time God is the one who took initiative to save his people.

The Importance of Celebrating

Each time the Lord saved his people they celebrated God's mighty work of grace. They found it important to worship God through celebration because they understood the nature of their deliverance. God was fully responsible. It was not through their own power that they escaped slavery in Egypt. It was not through their own ingenuity that David defeated the giant and the Philistines throughout his reign as King. God deserved the credit.

The Importance of Remembering

Following each celebration the people of God established a yearly feast or fast to commemorate God's mighty work on their behalf. They did this so future generations would remember that God is their true savior and King.
The ancient people understood the importance of remembering the past and consistently reminding themselves of God's great work on their behalf.

Your Story

Like the ancient people of God, each of you has a story. Each of your stories includes the big story of God's saving work throughout history. To be sure, you should consistently celebrate and remember those saving works.
But there is something else each of you should celebrate and remember as well. Celebrate and remember God's specific saving work in your life. God has brought you here on purpose. He has directed you here by design.

If you are a Christian, you have the privilege of serving the God of the universe who loves you and has restored you to an eternal relationship with himself. Celebrate this!

If you are a Christian, you have a story of events that God has brought you through in order to get you right where you are! Remember this!

Like Esther, you need to call to remembrance what the Lord has done in and through you and use it to encourage everyone! Esther called the nation to celebrate and remember God's mighty work! Likewise, you should display God's mighty work and call God's people to celebrate!

Esther 9:30-32 30 Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, 31 that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to their fasts and their lamenting. 32 The command of Queen Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.