Dear Brethren,
How to Observe the Sabbath in a Practical Way
The Sabbath was ordained of God since the beginning of Biblical history. God completed the creation in 6 days and rested on the 7th day. He also blessed and sanctified the Sabbath (Gen 2:2-3). God wants His children to do likewise to observe the Holy Sabbath. The keeping of the Sabbath is clearly commanded in the 10 commandments.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” Exodus 20:8
Today, the Sabbath day for Christians is the Lord’s Day on Sunday. It is called the Lord’s Day to remember the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday. How should we keep and observe the Lord’s Day in this present age?
Firstly, the Sabbath is to be a day set aside for worship. It is foremost to be a day of corporate worship, adoration and communion with God in a local congregation. It is a time not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together but to do so even the more as we await the Lord Jesus’ soon return (Heb 10:24, 25). Nothing should stop us from coming to Church except for works of necessities, beds of affliction or being away overseas. The Lord’s Day is a glorious day to look forward to, to have an audience with the King of kings and the Lord of lords together with His people, to hear His Word, to pray and to worship Him. We would want to be in the best condition that we can ever be to meet God including our attire and personal decorum and a good night rest before. We should come early to prepare our hearts for worship.
Secondly, it is rightfully a day of rest, a forerunner of the eternal rest in Christ one day. It is pre-eminently a rest from our labours and a day for God. It is a day to rest from our normal secular employments, studies and leisure to refresh our weary physical bodies and to replenish the faculties of our bodies with strength again. Thank God that He is our Master Designer who knows the frail condition of His creature and graciously ordained a day of rest and respite for us.
Thirdly, it is a good opportunity to visit the sick and those who have not been coming to church. It is an opportune time for visitation to encourage him or her in the Lord especially if the person has not been coming to church for a while. It is also a good time to email or sms those with a need, those who are sick, taking exams, going through a period of struggles or even to missionaries and friends abroad, to exhort and encourage them in the Lord.
Fourthly, it is also a time to engage ourselves to read some good Christian literature. We often say that there is no time for reading. Even worldly people know how to keep up with the latest in their secular professions by reading and keeping abreast with the latest in the market. How much more should God’s people keep in touch with the Christian world and the Word of God through much diligent and fruitful reading. The Lord’s Day is a good time to be found reading more of the Word of God as well as Christian books that will build up our faith in Christ.
In conclusion, it must be noted that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). God does not impose His law as a set of rigid rules and regulations to enslave us but rather the Law is given to help us maintain a right relationship with Him. So we must not be legalistic about the Sabbath but we should cheerfully and gratefully delight in the Lord every Lord’s Day and keep it holy unto Him for His glory!
Elder John Leong