Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Matthew 28: 20
28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
Through all your trials, which have never been fully revealed to others, you have had a never-failing Friend, who has said: “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” While upon the earth, He was ever touched with human woe. Although He is now ascended to His Father, and is adored by angels who quickly obey His commands, His heart, which loved, pitied, and sympathized, knows no change. It remains a heart of unchangeable tenderness still. That same Jesus was acquainted with all your trials, and did not leave you alone to struggle with temptations, battle with evil, and be finally crushed with burdens and sorrow. Through His angels He whispered to you: “‘Fear not, for I am with thee.’ ‘I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.’ I know your sorrows; I have endured them. I am acquainted with your struggles; I have experienced them. I know your temptations; I have encountered them. I have seen your tears; I also have wept. Your earthly hopes are crushed; but let the eye of faith be uplifted and penetrate the veil, and there anchor your hopes. The everlasting assurance shall be yours that you have a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” {2T 271.1}
Our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, has given us the assurance that we should fear not, for He is always with us. No matter what we have experienced or suffered through, He knows our pain and suffering. He has been acquainted with all our trials, temptations, burdens, sorrows, and has battled with Satan. He has cried for our sake. He died but lives, that we might live for evermore. Our best friend, our big Brother, has assured us that He is with us always, even unto the end of the world. He has taught us to obey all His commandments and have His faith, to keep our eyes on Jesus and there anchoring our hopes. We need not ever feel alone, we have a friend in Jesus.
Our Father in heaven,
We come before You, to the foot of Your throne, and thank You for giving us the privilege of entering into Your presence. We thank You for giving us the blessed hope of Your second coming and giving us the assurance that You are always with us, even to the end of the world. We thank You for bearing all of our burdens, trials and temptations, never leaving us alone with our struggles. We pray that we may have Your faith, that You increase our faith, and help our unbelief. Let us always keep our eyes on You, and there anchor all our hopes. We thank You for being our best friend, our big Brother. This we pray, in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Comments