First Baptist Asheville Youth

* The devotions the student choir will use July 31-Aug 2 are provided by the Baptist Youth World Conference. During that time, I will post the devotions that they read the first 3 days of their trip: July 25-26-27. - Tracey

Down to the River to Pray

Remember:

As I went down to the river to pray studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the robe and crown, good Lord, show me the way.

Oh brothers let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down
Oh brothers let’s go down to the river to pray.
(Oh sisters, sinners, Christians)

Read: II Kings 5: 1, 9-14

Reflect: Do you like to bathe/shower before going to bed or first thing in the morning? Bar soap or body wash? Shampoo and conditioner, or just shampoo? 5 Minutes, or 30?

Consider: Is there anything better than a good, slow shower after you’ve gotten majorly sweaty from basketball, mowing the yard, or just laying out in the hot sun? How about the feeling of brushing your teeth after you wake up with “gunk mouth” or after you’ve eaten Italian, complete with four pieces of garlic bread? Feeling clean means feeling good.

Imagine how Naaman, the guy in the scripture, must have felt when his larva-infested, leprous skin became like a ten-year-old boy’s skin after he dipped in the Jordan River. He surely must have felt like a totally new person, full of life and promise. He was, in every sense of the word, born again!

Throughout the Bible and the history of Jesus’ followers, water and bodies of water have symbolized new life. From the flood of Noah that destroyed the evil of the world and replenished the good to the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, water has birthed life. From the mighty waters of the Red Sea parted by the rod of Moses to the living water offered by Jesus to the woman at the well, water has given deliverance. From the watery womb of our mothers at our birth to the refreshing waters of our baptism, God sustains our life. These stories are what’s behind the power of the song Down to the River. For centuries people have gathered beside rivers in every part of the world to experience and witness baptism into a relationship with Jesus. It is an important ritual of our faith and a vital beginning step for a life-long commitment to Christ.

But the cleansing doesn’t stop there. The exhilarating feeling of ridding oneself of dirt and sweat by showering can only be surpassed by the freedom felt when we mend a broken relationship with God. Sometimes this requires confessing our sins to God and asking for forgiveness. Sometimes it means we have to say we are sorry to other people. And still other times it might mean an intentional change of bad habits. Whatever it takes, being made clean is always the first step to being made better. For the Christian, this is a daily process just like taking a shower.

So, what do you say? Oh, Christian, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down…the water’s fine.

Pray: Ask God to show you the parts of your heart and life that are not so clean. Ask God to forgive you and to help you strive for holy thoughts and actions.

(written by Clark Sorrells)

# posted by Tracey Jenkins @ 1:25 PM