Wednesday, June 05, 2013

A Thought for Wednesday 6/5/13

“Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.  You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you.”  Exodus 31:12-14a

The Sabbath is mentioned in many more places than just among the Ten Commandments, and the reason for its prominence is simple: our observance of Sabbath serves as “a sign between me and you” by which we not only acknowledge this remarkable and extraordinary gift, but receive it as well.  Sabbath is much more than just a day off from work; it is a day given “throughout your generations” to be devoted to the Lord, far beyond a meager hour for worship.

I often wonder if the decline of the American church and American society cannot somehow be connected to our refusal to devote any real time to Sabbath rest and reflection and worship.  This cannot be said of those who do not acknowledge the Lord at all; I am referring strictly to the Lord’s people who claim the Lord but also defy the Lord (ironically in the name of Jesus!) in refusing to acknowledge and accept this gift in its entirety, for instance, by refraining from work ourselves but placing our work’s burden on others.

There are those who try to suggest that one’s Sabbath may be on a different day than another’s Sabbath, but this makes no sense within the context of “My Sabbaths”, the Lord making this claim on the “seventh day” – and we refusing this day by establishing our own terms according to our own schedules according to what we desire for ourselves.  In other words, spitting in the hand of the One who made this gift possible in the first place.

Receive this gift in its fullness and in its entirety and in the spirit in which it is given.  Devote this day entirely to the Lord in worship and in Scripture study and in rest for in doing so, we may truly discover the difference between human will and Divine will – and find Divine will the best way to go.

Blessings,

Michael

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