Psalm 122:1a - I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"
When I go to church on Sunday, I'm reminded that I am one of those sinners for whom Christ died. He didn't die for the sins of the whole world except for me. When He endured the pains of Calvary's cross on Good Friday, He did it because I am a sinner. When my family gathers for worship, we are reminded of Christ's sacrifice. We also know that we are part of the death and burial of Christ that happened for us almost 2,000 years ago.
In Romans 6:5, it says, "For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His." This great promise gives us hope for life's many problems. Christ was buried and rose. By faith you are united with Christ and you will rise, too. In fact, your spiritual burial in Him and the hope of glory change your reaction to the daily problems you encounter.
Colossians 3:1-4 says this: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
You see, God wants you and your family to know peace. He wants you to enjoy the blessings of His forgiveness—for the sins that have disrupted the peace of your home. He wants you to know that the hope of Christ's resurrection can bring hope into your family life, right now. When we gather together to worship, we continue the celebration of Easter. But this joy isn't reserved for families only. It's for you, too.
If you're a single parent, don't count yourself out of what I'm saying. If you're widowed or divorced, don't count yourself out. If you've never married, don't count yourself out. We sinners are all in this together. We want to see the relevance of faith for our daily lives. We hear the religious talk and we humbly ask, "How does this apply to me?" The answer is that the glory of Christ's resurrection is for us all. It continues in the message of forgiveness and hope we experience each time we gather together.
The songwriter Christopher Wordsworth extolled the worship of the Lord's Day this way, "O day of rest and gladness. O day of joy and light. O balm of care and sadness, most beautiful, most bright. On Thee, the high and lowly, before the eternal throne, sing, 'Holy, holy, holy,' to the great Three-in-One."
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of gathering together to worship You. In Jesus' Name we pray.
From "On Thee, the High and Lowly," a sermon excerpt from Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, Speaker Emeritus for The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
1. Was going to church part of your family's routine when you were young? Why or why not?
2. What are three benefits you get from going to church?
3. What have you done since the pandemic began to continue having a "church" experience?
Today's Bible Readings: Isaiah 20-22 Ephesians 5:1-16
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