Remember to Sabbath

1/9/2020

If you’ve been following the bible reading plan from last week, on Monday you would have read the creation account in Genesis 1-2. This year as I read Genesis 2:2-3, I took a moment to ponder the rest God modeled (and later commanded in Genesis 20:8-11) as part of our worship. We know from Romans 12:1-2 that a significant part of our worship is tied up in becoming more like Christ. Though we have examples and commands from both the Old and New Testaments, we often ignore any idea of rest.

That’s not to say we aren’t well accomplished at the act of leisure. We often find plenty of time to do “relaxing” and fun activities as a break from our routine, but when we Sabbath we are to find time to not merely cease from activity but also reflect on who God is and what He has done and is doing. We have all had periods in our lives where the pace of our days seem to leave no quiet moments…no moments to remember what blessings we have that God has given us!

This week, try to find a moment to Sabbath… even if it isn’t a full day. Find even 30 minutes to an hour so that you can reflect on all that God has done, all that He is, and all He has promised to do! You’ll find that despite the frantic pace, you can find peace and rest when you remember to Sabbath.

For His Glory,
-Pastor Zach

4 Comments

Brent Greiner

8/25/2020 12:42:15 pm

Why do we worship on Sunday and call it the Sabbath and not worship on Saturday and call it the Sabbath which is recognized as the seal of our covenant in the Ten Commandments. There are those who say we have adopted new laws written by the Catholic Church contrary to the laws in the scriptures including observing the Sabbath on Sunday instead of Saturday. The serious infraction is that in this example we choose to obey a law or custom of men that is contrary to the law and will of God. I don’t know what to belief. Can you help clarify the church’s perspective on this issue?

Pastor Zach

8/27/2020 07:04:59 pm

Brent,
That is an excellent question, and I'm glad you asked it! The Sabbath was part of the Jewish law and many of the first century christians came out of Judaism. Many of them, though freed from the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament, still observed the Sabbath even as they would gather with other believers.

Christians, who are made up of both Jew and non-Jew (gentile) gathered on the first day of the week because that was the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Long before the Roman Catholic church came into existence, this was the practice of the followers of Christ (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2).

John Piper gives an excellent explanation of why we gather as Christians and why we gather on Sundays as opposed to Saturday.

Thank you for commenting and asking questions!
-Pastor Zach

8/27/2020 07:06:45 pm

The link to the John Piper article is here:

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/why-do-christians-worship-together-on-sundays

Ed Brown

2/3/2021 08:52:18 pm

Pastor Zach...though it is not uncommon to come across a believer seeking advice from a Pastor about what the true Sabbath actually is, it is also not uncommon to see a pastor, again, painfully provide unbiblical evidence to a seeking believer regarding this question. I don’t know if it is a theological unsound teaching that they are receiving or just a plain ignorance of the Word of God, and if you are wondering who I am talking about, it is both the pastor and the believer. Your biblical references that you provided to the believer above, are of The Word of God, but they do not come close to proclaiming your position. Your sound-bite biblical responses are what will cause many a believer to turn away from true worship of God. There is no reference anywhere in the Bible that indicates that early Christians met to worship on the first day of the week, but there is plenty of scripture indicating that the disciples continued to teach and obey the commandments of God...not the commands or ordinances of men. I hope you take the time to actual seek God’s answer to this dilemma rather than rely on the teachings of men. And by the way, new Christian believers were grafted into Israel, and not the other way around as those who believe in replacement theology. You should seek God’s answer to this dilemma as well, as it basically is the root of all the unbiblical teachings of the “so called Christian beliefs of this time. Remember, those who live by the teachings of men and of the world and who teach others the same are lost. I am sure you don’t want to be one of them. Since I am the only other person who has commented here, maybe it was I who God wanted you to hear from. Seek, study, and pray for the truth. It is there right in front of you. You will be amazed at what God will reveal to you while you study the Sabbath, about so many other things other than the Sabbath. Open your heart before it becomes hardened. God bless.

Remember to Sabbath

Leave a Reply.

Author

Archives

Categories

Location

Service Times