
It's Sunday, the Sabbath, a day for worship and rest. It's the day that serves as the foundation for our week ahead. We Christians start the day with worship and praise for the One who has promised everlasting life if we believe in Him and follow His guidance. Our time worshiping him with others is a fitting way to get ready for the start of another week. We recommit to Him publicly and commit to go forth with Christian spirit and love. It is designed to help us focus on the central part that He plays in our lives and on keeping us true and righteous.
So we'll gather at the river, the river of the water of life, which is Jesus Christ our Lord. Like those people pictured being baptized in the River Jordan, the river of the water of life is present in our gatherings in churches throughout the Christian world just as He is with us wherever we go. He is our hope and our salvation. Just as water is a central ingredient in sustaining life on earth, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is central to overcoming our mortality. Our everlasting life to come is totally dependent on Him and His grace.
Dear Lord, Thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ to give the ultimate gift, His life in return for ours. Help us to always appreciate this gift and to love Him and devote ourselves to Him. And help us to go out among friends and strangers as well and witness for Him. It is our responsibility to spread the word of His love and hope so that others might also live forever.
Give us strength to deal with adversity, to overcome those who would do us harm and ridicule us, and to be steadfast through good and bad knowing that, in the end, we will be the recipients of the most wonderful gift of all, eternal life with Jesus and Thee. We ask in His name, Amen.
Rejoice knowing that with Jesus you have the most precious and wonderful future to look forward to forever. No armies are great enough and no rulers are powerful enough to take this gift away from you. They are nothing in comparison to Him. Fear not and praise the Lord.