纪念石
约书亚记四章1至9节
1国民尽都过了约但河，耶和华就对约书亚说：
2你从民中要拣选十二个人，每支派一人，
3吩咐他们说：你们从这里，从约但河中、祭司脚站定的地方，取十二块石头带过去，放在你们今夜要住宿的地方。
4于是，约书亚将他从以色列人中所预备的那十二个人，每支派一人，都召了来。
5对他们说：你们下约但河中，过到耶和华─你们神的约柜前头，按着以色列人十二支派的数目，每人取一块石头扛在肩上。
6这些石头在你们中间可以作为证据。日后，你们的子孙问你们说：这些石头是甚么意思？
7你们就对他们说：这是因为约但河的水在耶和华的约柜前断绝；约柜过约但河的时候，约但河的水就断绝了。这些石头要作以色列人永远的纪念。
8以色列人就照约书亚所吩咐的，按着以色列人支派的数目，从约但河中取了十二块石头，都遵耶和华所吩咐约书亚的行了。他们把石头带过去，到他们所住宿的地方，就放在那里。
9约书亚另把十二块石头立在约但河中，在擡约柜的祭司脚站立的地方；直到今日，那石头还在那里。
信息分享
当以色列民全都过了河后，神吩咐每一支派选出一个代表，到河中拾回一块大石头。这些石头由于不断受到河水的冲击，一定是相当的平滑，他们拿回来后，便把它们运到他们的营区，然后便一块叠着一块地将它们竖立起来。这些石头将永远竖立在那里，让百姓每次看见，都记起神是如何施行神迹，带领他们渡过约旦河。
或许，很久之后，有些年幼的以色列人，已逐渐淡忘昔日过河的经过。然而，每当他们一看见这些石头，就唤醒他们的记忆，让他们时时刻刻记念神的作为。
到以色列人生育了下一代，小孩子看见这些石头，一定会感到好奇；这时，成年人便可将昔日过河的神迹，详细地告诉他们了。
那么，我们作为基督徒的，又有甚么东西，可以经常提醒我们念及神的恩典和作为呢？
圣餐是其中一个提醒信徒纪念主的机会。当你守圣餐的时候，曾否试过有小孩子前来问你，为甚么要吃那个饼和喝那杯葡萄汁呢？你是否怕他们骚扰，就打发他们出外玩耍呢？
即使在守圣餐的时候，不方便向小孩子讲解守圣餐的意义，我们也应该在聚会完毕，找机会向他们解释，守圣餐是为了记念主对我们的救赎。昔日，十二支派的代表为何要从河中捡走石头？是因为神要他们这样做。同样地，今天的信徒之所以守圣餐，是因为主耶稣曾经吩咐说：「你们要如此行，为的是记念我。」这是主给予信徒的特权，让我们可以一同分享记念祂的喜悦。
那些记念的石头，可能已经在历史中湮没。对信徒来说，终有一天也可能不用再守圣餐。因为在那天，我们将可以面对面地见主，永远与祂在一起，无须再用其他东西来提醒我们记念主了。
反思：
我们借着守圣餐，记念主为我们受死；我们要一直守这餐，直至主再来的日子。
REMEMBRANCE STONES
Joshua 4: 1-9
1 And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying:
2 “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe,
3 and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’”
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe;
5 and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,
6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”
8 And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the LORD had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.
Message
It must have been interesting to watch as twelve men, one from each tribe, went down again into the riverbed. Each one picked up one big stone and carried it up the bank. The stones would be partly round as all stones are in a riverbed. Then they piled them on top of one another. There they remained for many years as a reminder of what God had done for his people at the river Jordan.
If any one of the Children of Israel ever forgot what had happened, they had only to look at those stones that had come out of the riverbed. They would be instantly reminded of the miracle God had done for them.
Years afterwards, if any one, say a child, asked what the stones were for, it would be easy to tell them exactly why they had been put there.
What memorials do we have of what Christ has done for us?
The Lord's supper or communion is one. Have you ever taken time to tell your children why you have this love feast of remembrance? Or do you just send them outside to play, telling them to be good while you stay inside?
Why not take time to tell your children exactly what the bread and the grape juice stand for and what they remind you of? Why did the men bring the stones out of Jordan? Because God said to. Why do we have communion? Because Jesus Christ said, 'This do in remembrance of me.' It is our privilege and joy to remember him in this way.
Those round stones have long since gone. One day we will not need the communion table to remind us of what Christ has done. We will see him and be with him. We will not need a reminder then. We will be with him for all eternity.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
In our communion services we are reminding ourselves and others of the Lord's death until he comes.