There is in the world a steady and rapid drift toward making the Lord’s Day a day of selfish pleasure, and an occasion for making money. Amongst believers there is a danger of losing sight of its true significance.

What then is its true significance? Let Scripture supply the answer. In Mark 14:1-2, we read, "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun." Again we read Acts 20:7, "And upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them."

These quotations shew us two things:First, the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week. Second, His followers met together on that day to break bread and to enjoy the ministry of the Word.

From that day to this the First Day of the week has been essentially the Lord’s Day, the Christian’s day. Sunday, the popular name for the first day of the week is a name of pagan origin, and it was officially recognized and established by Constantine as a day of rest and religious observances.

The Sabbath was past when Christ arose. It was the seventh day and essentially Jewish, setting forth the rest of God. The Lord’s Day, therefore, is a memorial of the resurrection of Christ and it signifies complete deliverance from the whole Jewish system, for He died to it, once and forever.

Rising from the dead, He became the beginning of the creation of God – new creation and if any man be in Christ there is new creation. Liberty, freedom, and eternal salvation are associated with the first day of the week, for Christ has broken death’s power and brought life and incorruptibility to light through the gospel.

The great enemy of souls has ever sought to destroy this witness and is doing so today with all his power.

He would give it a Jewish character and bring souls into bondage, robbing them of the liberty wherewith Christ has made them free, or, failing in this he would go to the other extreme and turn liberty into license for the flesh. Alas! in the latter he is succeeding, perhaps more than in the former; for men are becoming increasingly lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.

What is the meaning of the modern attitude towards the Lord’s Day – the mad rush for change and excitement entailing wasteful expenditure of money and hard and unnecessary work for many who are entitled to rest and quietude. It means the masses are throwing off allegiance to God and asserting their own will. To them it is no longer the Lord’s Day but their day, "Will a man rob God? Mal. 3:8. Yes, they are doing it, openly and unabashed. They say, with ever increasing defiance, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice."
The tide has set in and nothing can stop it. The religious leaders can see it and are alarmed, but in many cases they do not see the end, owing to their erroneous systems of theology. What will the end be? The One whose day it is, and to Whom it gives testimony, is coming again to assert His rights and establish His power in the earth. What an awakening it will be; but too late, "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels." (2 Thess. 1-7.)

Should any read these lines who are on pleasure bent and who take to themselves the sacred hours of the Lord’s Day, shutting God out of their thoughts, let them beware – "The Judge standeth before the door." "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

To the Lord’s dear people I would affectionately address myself. It is the Lord’s Day – fill it for Him. Own His claims in connection with it. "Ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s." 1st Cor. 6:19-20. "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is." Seek to be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and whatsoever thine hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.

Avail yourselves of the holy privilege of assembling together to break bread. Listen with attentive ears to the ministry of the Word. Edify one another. Be in the Spirit; the Lord can then speak to you and you in turn can speak to others. Wait on the Lord for your service. He will direct you and fit and qualify you for it. Redeem the time for the days are evil.

May we, one and all, be found as each Lord’s Day comes round, answering to our Master’s will until He Himself shall come.

FRAGMENT How sweet in glory to be able to look back upon a course run in which Jesus had not been denied, confidence maintained, and now throughout eternity to enjoy the fulness of that blessing, the foretaste of which sweetened all their sorrows in this life!

FRAGMENT We will make a straight path if we are looking unto Jesus and running with patience; but if not, it is not only that we have turned aside from the appointed course, but that which is lame will also be turned out of the way. God keep us from turning any of His lame ones out of the way. Oh for the faith that, instead of turning others away, or stumbling the feeblest, shall heal those who would be tempted to wander.