Recently, another counselee ‘crossed the Jordan River’. It was evident that identification with Christ had gone from head to heart. Hallelujah! I prepared this 12 Stones list for him as a reminder of the rest of the Gospel.
In the book of Joshua, the Lord miraculously parted the Jordan River (as He had parted the Red Sea 40 years earlier). This redemption history also contains types that illustrate New Covenant living (1 Cor. 5:7;10:1-13). Cannan is a type of resting in Jesus as your source of living (Heb. 4:8-10; Gal. 2:20).
“And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, 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…that this may be a sign among you… (Joshua 4:1,3,6a).
If you have received Christ Jesus as your personal Savior, Lord, and Life, consider these twelve “stones of remembrance.” They are vital aspects of God’s amazing grace, so give thanks to Him. You can use this list to daily “set your mind on the Spirit, which is life and peace” (Rom.8:6).
1. I have been united with Christ in my spirit.
“But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Cor. 6:17).
2. I have been united with Christ in His death.
“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him,that the body of sin might be done away with that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Rom. 6:6).
3. I have been united with Christ in His burial.
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).
4. I have been united with Christ in His resurrection.
“and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6).
5. I have been united with Christ in His ascension.
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:1-4).
6. Christ is the True Vine; I am a branch.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)
7. Christ in me is the hope of glory.
“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).
8. God completely accepts me in Christ.
“to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6)
9. I have a new identity in Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17)
10. I am free from sin’s authority.
“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Rom. 6:22).
11. I am free from the law-based achieving system.
“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14)
12. I have been transferred into God’s grace-based receiving system.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).
“…When your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’…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” (Joshua 4:6b,7).
“…even so we should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4b).
Biblical quotations are from the New King James Version (copyright by Thomas Nelson).