There Is A Scripture
“Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God. You have six days to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat for ADONAI your God.
On it you are not to do any kind of work- not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. (That foreigner, could he or she be thought of as a gentile who chose to become a part of Israel, a grafted-in one? Just a thought.)
For in six days, ADONAI made the heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them;
but on the seventh day He rested.
this is why ADONAI blessed the day, Shabbat,
and separated it for Himself.” Exodus 20:8-11 CJB.
Pretty clear and unambiguous, for Hebrew and Gentile.
Remember the day, Shabbat, the entire day Memorialize it. Make mention of it. Participate in it.
The day is specific. Six days we have to do all our work. But the seventh day is a Shabbat for Yahweh our God.
He bases the command on His own actions.
As clear as it is, this seems to be the one command, of the ten, that people have the hardest time with. For the most part all of “Christendom” either ignores it or redefines it so that lives won’t be inconvenienced by an observance that interferes with our flow of things.
We find ourselves in a hard spot. We didn’t make these times but we have to make our way in them. That’s not God’s fault. He didn’t change the times, we did.
So what do we teach our children? What do we say to the one we witness to? “This is one law we have flexibility with? We can custom fit it to our individual ambitions and life styles? It’s not necessary for us to rearrange our time and activities, make our preparations ahead of time, to be able to set this one specific day aside to respond to his call to join Him, to cease, to rest, to focus on Him, His character, His works and be joyful with Him?
Instead shouldn’t we paint a different picture for ourselves and them?
In these times you may put down you will not be available on Saturday to work, not that you would prefer not to but that you will not be available, and not get the job. You may find that you only progress so far on your career path and then for some reason you can’t seem to get any farther. You may get chiding… at best, confrontation… at worst, for not being at least a little bit flexible from time to time. You may find yourself at odds in certain social circles, even those of your own fellowship, even with those in your own family. You may find that there will be times you fail, maybe because of circumstances you couldn’t avoid, maybe because you just wanted your own way, find also that, either way, you didn’t feel good about it, or… maybe you did and are unsettled that you didn’t.
In the mean time as the old passes away, the new takes shape. A different job, a different pathway, new friends appear. A different value system and understanding of success takes place. The immediate is not as important as the eternal. The flesh is not as important as the spirit. The imperfections are balanced against a new heart and mind and intentions that have their origin in God. And we have a perfect and merciful judge. There is peace and a clear conscience because when we do something we do it the way He says, and not some different way He did not ask for.
We are setting an example for our children and the bystander, and making a reality based on God’s Word.
It is real. It is here and now. They can count on it and be a part of it.
They are not alone and we need to make every effort so that they do not feel that way.
Father, on the eve of Your Shabbat we offer up a blessing to You and utter with our voices that we set aside this special day of the week and ourselves for You out of love for You and a desire to know You more intimately and to be obedient to Your command to do so.
Bless this coming day Father we pray You.
Bless our time together with family.
Bless our time together with one another.
May You be close Father, closer.
May You be glorified by our prayer, our blessing and by our heartfelt obedience.
In Yeshua’s name we pray,
Amen.
May God’s love be in us all.
Elder.
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