#4 Take a Break

God designed you for a special purpose, made you to love and follow Him, and has given you life itself. As our Creator, wouldn't you say He has the right to ask us for, well, just about anything He wants?

The fourth commandment says: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God."

God wants us to set aside one day out of seven for a special purpose: to rest! It's strange that God would need to make this a "commandment" (you'd think we'd be excited about it!). But ask yourself: Do you have a day of real rest and spiritual focus?

What should I do on the Sabbath?

Jesus taught that God gave the Sabbath for our benefit. It's not just an arbitrary rule we have to follow, it's a blessing from God to help us accomplish our purpose in life, and to maximize the joy we have each week. Many people make a habit of going to church every Sunday, then using the rest of the day for physical rest, family time, Bible reading, spending restful time in nature, and helping other people. This is a good pattern to follow.

God has asked us to dedicate one day out of seven for His use -- He wants us to take a break from our usual routine so that we can rest, worship, and consider the things that matter most.

Practice the Commandment: This Sunday, instead of allowing it to become just as busy a day as all the others, purposely take a break from everything you would usually do. Rest, pray, worship, and enjoy following the fourth commandment!

What if your job requires you on Sunday?

I think that you need to work out your employment details with God, but I can say this: whatever your schedule, you need to begin honoring the Sabbath principle by dedicating one day in seven to God; meaning that one day in seven you do not work.  I hope at some point to research out this concept further.  Until then, consider the promises God made to His people in Isaiah 58:13-14, and ask yourself if the same could be true in your own life.

Comments

[Linda Gerace]

I appreciate your website and what you are doing to spread the gospel.

I have a question, though... my Bible says "... the SEVENTH day is THE sabbath of the Lord thy God..." Not just any day, the seventh day (Saturday) is not just any sabbath day, but it is THE sabbath day on which we are supposed to rest, and the command points back to the creation of our earth as evidence... (Ex. 20:11)... "for in 6 days the Lord created... and rested on the seventh day, wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." God didn't bless and make holy just any day. He blessed and made holy the SEVENTH day which is the day on which He rested after creating the heaven and earth. Saturday is not the Jewish Sabbath; it's God's Sabbath since the creation of our earth.

So many people fail to see that the seventh-day(Saturday)Sabbath was not instituted in the book of Exodus on Mount Sinai for the Jews; rather it was instituted during Creation week in Genesis 2 for ALL mankind.