The Bible Sabbath
A Day of Rest
The primary purpose of the Sabbath is to rest (Gen. 2:1-3). Unfortunately most of us don't do that on any day of the week. While the Sabbath is holy we were not made for the Sabbath, it was made for us. Jesus is Lord over the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28)
Today is the day to worship God (whatever day today is), this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalms 118:24). There is no special day set aside to worship God, no special day set aside for prayer and thanksgiving, no special day set aside for celebrating God's love and mercy, no special day set aside for anything but rest. The other activities are daily activities. We must worship God every single day.
Jesus did not disobey the Sabbath laws. He is Lord of the Sabbath and could not disobey the Sabbath. Jesus did not change the day on which the Sabbath was to be observed. The word used in Strong's Concordance Greek Dictionary for the word "Sabbath" in the New Testament is G4521, it is the same word used in every single place in the New Testament that is translated "week". So, when scripture says the "first day of the week" it can be translated "the first day of the Sabbath"
It is possible for people to worship on Sunday, the actual first day of the modern week and still believe in the 7th day Sabbath. Once I attended a church that met on Saturdays and someone asked me "Why would you want to give God the last day of the week". Well, we don't give God any day of the week. The days belong to Him. They are not yours to give. Jesus however is Lord of the Sabbath and He gives that and every day to us, His people. But it is a day of rest, not a day to write articles, shop, or hobnob with our friends.
Rest will refresh us, when I was young it was recreation (re-creation) that tired me out. I would go on an occasional vacation and feel tired from having "fun". After church picnics which involved the fun of fellowship (fellowshipping with a baseball bat) that made me to tired to want to go to work the next day. And it was fun, but sports and recreation is not rest. It is rest that revives our juices. If you disagree with me on the day, fine, what day do you rest on? Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday?
Published by Butch West
I am just an ordinary human being that some would say has had it rougher in life than others. I see a lot of things as an opportunity, including my writing on Associated Content, Bukisa, Blogger and other s... View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentYou are so right Butch. Recreation is not the same as a Sabbath observance. We do dishonor the day of rest that God rested on as an example for us. Fine work my friend. I am so with you on this. God bless and thanks friend.