Memorial Day

This day is great for remembering those who have gone before us, and especially those who served our country, allowing us to be free.  But it could be a good day to remember those who went before us to see that the Gospel, the "good news," was preserved for us.  We'll take a few moments here to review this process, as described to us in the Bible.

It all began with Jesus when He told His followers:  Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:15-16).  Just before He left the earth, He charged the apostles to carry on the work  after He was gone: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The apostles probably did not understand all that Jesus told them before He left; but they did understand the charge that was left to them, i.e., to start in Jerusalem and go out into all the world spreading the good news of Jesus. And as we read on in the book of Acts, we see that they did just that.  Acts 4:31 says they "..spoke the word of God with boldness."  Acts 5:42, after being beaten and persecuted, we read, "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

As we read further, we see in the letters, the epistles, where the apostles continued to help the Christians in the churches.  In Paul's 2nd letter to the Thessalonians, note verses 13-15 and particularly verse 15: "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Verse 15) Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle."

After Jesus left the earth, the apostles carried on the work, teaching, working miracles, strengthening Christians, spreading the good news.  They started churches, they visited churches, they wrote letters to the Christians.  These letters and writings were eventually preserved, compiled and now comprise the New Testament. 

We certainly can be thankful in our remembrance of these great early Christians.  Thanks for reading.  Have a great day and a great week.  Feel the love.