OCT 14

Luke 24:1
Memorise Exodus 20:8
“And God did rest – the seventh day from all his works.”

The Sabbath was instituted by God for mankind since the creation of the world where God rested on the seventh day to teach mankind to do the same. Traditionally, the Jews celebrated the Sabbath on what we know today as Saturday. The Sabbath day was later changed to Sunday by Christians which on the Jewish calendar is known as the first day of the week, Saturday being the last. The day was and is also known to Christians as “the Lord’s Day”. The reason for these changes lies in today’s scriptural reference that records for us the events revolving around the resurrection of Christ. Christ was raised from the dead on “the first day of the week, very early in the morning” (Luke 24:1) which was Sunday morning. For this reason, Christians keep the Sabbath on Sundays, both to continue to obey God in keeping the Sabbath as well as to remember the resurrection of the Lord which is why we call it the Lord’s Day.

As such, as Christians, we no longer observe the Jewish Sabbath which is on a Saturday, but it has been replaced by Sunday, the first day of the week. That is what we see the disciples doing in Acts 20:7, where they gathered on the first day of the week to break bread, and to listen to preaching. In this way, we continue to obey the 4th commandment to honour the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Jesus taught that “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” (Mark 2:27, 28). The Jews kept the Sabbath legalistically without understanding or true devotion hence they could not accept what the Lord said. Although there has been a change to the day of the Sabbath as a result of the resurrection of Christ, the need to keep the Sabbath holy as commanded by God is still required of us today. This has not changed. We are to continue to reserve this day for the Lord, to worship Him, to study His word and to serve Him. Hence, as Christians, we are still required to keep the Sabbath as commanded by God. But always remember that the Sabbath was made for man, and is a provision given to us for our benefit, for it is a day whereby we can set aside all our worldly cares, and find rest in God. It is a blessed opportunity for us to gether together to worship God, honour Him and have fellowship with God’s people. It is a great joy and privilege to celebrate the Sabbath.

Thought: Is the Lord pleased with how you spend your Sabbath?
Prayer: Father, help me to set aside the Sabbath for Thee alone.