How Easy We Forget

I remember, 20 years ago, being frantically woken up by my mother. At the time I lived in Southern California, so we were behind New York's time by a few hours, and yet when she said "they flew a plane in to one of the twin towers" it was so shocking, I sat upright, awakened by the declaration. I got up in time to see another plane fly into the second tower. Another would hit the pentagon, and still. another would crash in to a field, fought over by the crew and passengers to ensure it would not reach its intended target. I was in college at the time, and I remember, on my free periods, sitting in the commons and watching the repeated news broadcasts about it. I remember my anger, and I remember more than a few phone calls from friends in the military, some from guys who never made it home, knowing that I would be more than tempted to drop out, saying "Stay in school, we'll handle this." So many things I remember about that day, but what I remember is how so many said "We will never forget," and yet I see the division and strife in the US and wonder if this was a pie crust promise: easily made, easily broken. We ought to have live united, living in honor of those who died, seeking to undo what an enemy sought to do in causing fear, panic, and division. But 20 years later, we still face fear, panic and division. Every Sunday, the body of believers I worship with celebrates a memorial. We gather each and every week to remember Jesus and His Sacrifice, and, that by His death, burial and resurrection, the price of our rebellion has been paid. Yet I wonder if we truly remember it as we ought to. For such memorials, we ought to live differently. We ought to live to undo the great evil we caused, that the Son of God died to put an end to our rebellion, and to tell this good news to others. How often do we live, still enslaved to the things that put Jesus on the Cross? The Act of Communion should not merely be an observance, but should help us pause, reflect, and seek to live our lives led by the Holy Spirit, Holy, pleasing to God, and in a way that causes us to give testimony for the hope we have. Let's not forget. Let's live our lives as a walking memorial to what Jesus has done. Titus 3:1-11 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.