This blog is super late. I was struggling with network today. But as they say: better late than never, right? Today's blog was supposed to be under #FFF but we're already into the Sabbath day so I figured instead of sharing something about physical food, I'd share some spiritual food instead. So here it goes:
"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy..." Those are the opening words of the fourth commandment. The first word is "Remember". I always wondered why God would say remember. I mean it's there in black and white... but I guess He knew we would forget. For centuries the Sabbath has been forgotten. Some say it is a day for the Jews and not all of humanity. But before there was anyone called a Jew, the Sabbath had already been instituted by God. It is a memorial of creation week and it helps us to know who we are and whose we are. With all the drama in the world about identity, this weekly memorial helps us to remember where we come from. The Sabbath is for all mankind and in it we can rest.
Imagine taking this God-given opportunity to just switch off for an entire day and be in a completely different space. To spend a whole 24 hours in the presence of God and in nature. Imagine recharging/rebooting/re-energizing... Just taking a day to reflect and then start over. A clean and fresh start every single week... have you noticed how times have changed? How work is no longer at the office but it follows us home and follows us into the weekend. Have you noticed how school curriculums have changed and how kids have to attend classes or write tests on the Sabbath now? We are all sooooooo busy and yet the day we were given to rest we choose to fill with even more work. We are tired. Exhausted. But we don't see the blessing that has been given to us by God. Why won't we take it?
It reminds me of the children of Israel when they were in Egypt and Pharaoh increased their labour that they even worked on the Sabbath until they forgot about the Sabbath. That's kind of what's happened to us. We are so busy with everything else that the Sabbath stopped being a part of our lives and now we don't even know what it is, and if we do know, we associate it with others and not with ourselves.
I heard a pastor say that the reason the divorce rates are so high is because we don't keep the Sabbath. I didn't get his point at all. But when I thought about it I realised that the Sabbath is supposed to be a joyous day. No troubles, no fights, no anger... Just peace. And if a couple had an issue, it should therefore be resolved by the time the Sabbath day comes so that they can enter together into God's rest. And if we take the example of starting over, then the Sabbath can be their point of starting over and leave behind whatever was trying to break them apart. They can be bound together by God in their love. See, at creation the marriage institution and the Sabbath were established, and it is these two things that Satan seeks to destroy. But if we remembered, things would be so different.
So as you go about your business, remember... Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. God made it for the good and benefit of mankind. May we truly remember and take this special day that God has given us. Happy Sabbath everyone. May you all be blessed.
"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy..." Those are the opening words of the fourth commandment. The first word is "Remember". I always wondered why God would say remember. I mean it's there in black and white... but I guess He knew we would forget. For centuries the Sabbath has been forgotten. Some say it is a day for the Jews and not all of humanity. But before there was anyone called a Jew, the Sabbath had already been instituted by God. It is a memorial of creation week and it helps us to know who we are and whose we are. With all the drama in the world about identity, this weekly memorial helps us to remember where we come from. The Sabbath is for all mankind and in it we can rest.
Imagine taking this God-given opportunity to just switch off for an entire day and be in a completely different space. To spend a whole 24 hours in the presence of God and in nature. Imagine recharging/rebooting/re-energizing... Just taking a day to reflect and then start over. A clean and fresh start every single week... have you noticed how times have changed? How work is no longer at the office but it follows us home and follows us into the weekend. Have you noticed how school curriculums have changed and how kids have to attend classes or write tests on the Sabbath now? We are all sooooooo busy and yet the day we were given to rest we choose to fill with even more work. We are tired. Exhausted. But we don't see the blessing that has been given to us by God. Why won't we take it?
It reminds me of the children of Israel when they were in Egypt and Pharaoh increased their labour that they even worked on the Sabbath until they forgot about the Sabbath. That's kind of what's happened to us. We are so busy with everything else that the Sabbath stopped being a part of our lives and now we don't even know what it is, and if we do know, we associate it with others and not with ourselves.
I heard a pastor say that the reason the divorce rates are so high is because we don't keep the Sabbath. I didn't get his point at all. But when I thought about it I realised that the Sabbath is supposed to be a joyous day. No troubles, no fights, no anger... Just peace. And if a couple had an issue, it should therefore be resolved by the time the Sabbath day comes so that they can enter together into God's rest. And if we take the example of starting over, then the Sabbath can be their point of starting over and leave behind whatever was trying to break them apart. They can be bound together by God in their love. See, at creation the marriage institution and the Sabbath were established, and it is these two things that Satan seeks to destroy. But if we remembered, things would be so different.
So as you go about your business, remember... Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. God made it for the good and benefit of mankind. May we truly remember and take this special day that God has given us. Happy Sabbath everyone. May you all be blessed.
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