 A girl in a white dress walks down the aisle. Beautiful music plays in the background. A man, beaming with excitement, awaits her on the other side. The congregation stands, and the ceremony begins. Before long, the two newlyweds walk into a world of new opportunities and adventures.
 Work is not the result of sin in the world.
The Bible says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done” (Gen. 2:1-2 ESV).  In the 2nd century, a governor named Pliny the Younger wrote about a Christian worship service. The Roman Empire was highly intolerant of Christians. Despite the persecution, followers of Christ gathered in worship. In his letter to Trajan, Pliny the Younger wrote, “… they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god.”
 We exist in a “DIY” society. By that, I mean independence is highly prioritized. There’s a push for young men and women to forge their own way. Being dependent is often looked down upon. But this self-sufficiency and personal autonomy is not how many societies around the world operate.
 There’s a beautiful story in Luke 24, shortly after the resurrection account, of some disciples walking with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. But they fail to recognize who He is.
|