Skip to main content

WORD FOR TODAY SERIES - DOES GOD CARE? S57E05

 

TOPIC: DOES GOD CARE WHAT JOB I HAVE?

KEY BIBLE VERSE:  “Remember the Sabbath (seventh) day to keep it holy (set apart, dedicated to God). Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath [a day of rest dedicated] to the Lord your God; on that day you shall not do any work, you or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock or the temporary resident (foreigner) who stays within your [city] gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy [that is, set it apart for His purposes].

Exodus 20:8‭-‬11 AMP


Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or in regard to [the observance of] a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

*Colossians 2:16 AMP


*The Importance of the Sabbath*

Of the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath is forgotten the most, which is ironic since it reads, “Remember the Sabbath day” (Exodus 20:8, our emphasis).


Interestingly, the Lord not only commands us to keep the Sabbath day holy, but he also commands us to work: “Six days you shall labor” (Exodus 20:9). God rested on the seventh day of creation, establishing the holy day for the rest of time (Genesis 2:1; Exodus 20:11).


Why was the Sabbath established?


For us.


Jesus answers, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). In this, he absolves us from legalistic, inhuman strictness that misses the point.


Paul reiterates this in Colossians 2:16, warning, “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism,” which refers to inflicting unnecessary suffering on the body for spiritual growth (v. 18).


Nevertheless, Sabbath stands for all Christians to follow.


What does that look like in our weekly lives?


Well, Jesus “went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees,” the very people who hated him, in Luke 14. Then, he heals a man afflicted with dropsy, teaching that doing good is not prohibited on the Sabbath.


In this awkward setting, with crowds apparently standing outside and the wealthy inside at their esteemed places at the table, Jesus launches into two chapters’ worth of teaching on God’s kingdom.


We ought to fight to set aside a day for rest. This should include time with the Lord and often includes gathering in a local church as Jews gathered in Synagogue (historically, Saturday was the Sabbath). But, it might also include helping neighbors or reasoning with unbelievers about the gospel (Acts 16:13; Acts 18:8).


When the Israelites kept the Sabbath holy, they showed faith in God’s provision. It was to give them a chance to radically trust God for his blessing. This would separate them from the surrounding nations. This can also separate us (keep us holy) from our work-obsessed culture, and it will teach us to trust God.


Are you keeping a regular Sabbath?


If you don’t, why? Are you idolizing work?


Do you feel the exhaustion—the burnout—building?


Run to Jesus for rest.


PLS STAY TUNED FOR CONTINUATION TOMORROW BY GOD'S GRACE!


REMEMBER, WE LOVE YOU BUT GOD LOVES YOU MORE, STAY BLESSED, FOCUSED AND BE DETERMINED TO BE PECULIAR IN THIS WORLD!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Marriage Series 7: What Does The Bible Say About Divorce and Remarriage?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE? First of all, no matter what view one takes on the issue of divorce, it is important to remember Malachi 2:16, “I hate divorce, says the LORD God of Israel.” According to the Bible, marriage is a lifetime commitment. “So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matthew 19:6). God realizes, though, that, since marriages involve two sinful human beings, divorces are going to occur. In the Old Testament, He laid down some laws in order to protect the rights of divorcées, especially women ( Deuteronomy 24:1–4).  Jesus pointed out that these laws were given because of the hardness of people’s hearts, not because such laws were God’s desire (Matthew 19:8). The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed according to the Bible revolves primarily around Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 . The phrase “ except for marital unfaithfulness” is the only thing in Script...
Post a Comment
Read more

LIFE MATTERS SERIES - A THANKFUL HEART S57E01

TOPIC: HABITS OF A THANKFUL HEART KEY BIBLE VERSE: Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. Philippians 4:4‭, ‬6‭-‬7 AMP The Habits of Highly Thankful People Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4) The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People has sold over 15 million copies. The book promises that if readers adopt these habits they will experience “powerful . . . personal change.” It’s nearly Thanksgiving in the United States. For some of us, the holidays are a favorite time of year. But for those who are experiencing...
Post a Comment
Read more

Devotional: Life Matters Discuss, Series 7

 LIFE MATTERS DISCUSS, SERIES 7 TOPIC: WINNING THE WAR IN YOUR MIND 1 BIBLE REF: Philippians 4:8-9, Proverbs 23:7, Romans 12:1-2, 2Corithians 10:3-5 Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts. What we think shapes who we are. You might read that and think I’m being an overly dramatic preacher using hyperbole to get your attention. But this is no exaggeration. Our lives do follow the direction of our thoughts. The better we grasp that truth, the better equipped we’ll be to change the trajectory of our lives. But don’t take my word for it. Both the Bible and modern science provide evidence that this is true. So throughout this Bible Plan, we’ll unpack both Scripture and what we’ve learned from scientific research. Here’s a brief example of both: In Philippians 4:8–9, the apostle Paul writes, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is exce...
Post a Comment
Read more