Scriptural Reference:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
Exodus 20:8-11

"So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,"
Hebrews 4:9

“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah 58:13-14

Reflection:
Meeting together is important. Social studies have expressed that the need for regular contact with those who hold similar interests is vital for the development of an individuals feeling of inclusion. For Christians this sentiment is even more important. As each meeting creates a source of support and collective encouragement through the study of scripture. Yet over time things can become too familiar. Leaving the attendance of church to be more a social obligation then a scriptural acknowledgment of the importance of the Sabbath day.

On the Sabbath we are instructed how to act and what is expected. At its' core, it's a day of rest. We are to take time from our worldly concerns. The Monday to Saturday routine is to be set aside. While we rest. This is meant for those who are closest to us as well. Our family and those who are visiting us. Although for many of us we will not have livestock. We won't have servants, though there are some who are well off enough in places around the globe to have them, we are told to let them too take the day off from work. All attributed to the fact that God has blessed the Sabbath.

In toady's world we find ourselves in an unusual situation. Where by necessity some will need to work on the Sabbath. This is important as many services are vital and needed. The Police, Emergency Services and many other services that support our ever growing world, are all vital in keeping us safe. So perhaps what we can take from this is that as Jesus told us, the Sabbath was created for us; we were not created for it. Mark 2:27 speaks of this relationship. Where the Sabbath is for the enrichment and benefit of the faithful. So in the case of needing to work on the day, we can see how it doesn't work against the importance of the day as set aside. A further aspect of this can be found in Romans 14:5-6. Where Paul tells us it's not the actual day that is important. But it's the purpose we place on the day that we choose to meet.

In conclusion, we can understand that the Sabbath was created as a special day of rest. We are instructed to avoid working on this special day wherever possible. Though in our current age some work may be required. That, although many see Sunday as the chosen day for the Sabbath, Paul tells us that it really matters more about the importance of setting aside a day as special regardless to the actual day. As we will set aside and sanctify the day to God and be accepted by God as a part of our devotion to him.

Lastly, we must stay focused when at Church. Listen intently to the sermon. Seek to recognise the message that is part of our weekly encouragement and learning. Taking the message from the weekly sermon out into our daily world of the lost.

 

Prayer:

Lord, Jesus the Christ

The Sabbath is special to me,
It's a day of respect for you,
And a day of reflection on your Word,
Also a day learning and empowering.

I pray that you will continue to,
Prepare me for the coming week,
Open my heart to your Word,
Strengthen my focus on you.

I pray these things in your name.

Amen