Saturday, 14th January 2023
Pastor Alex Buabeng-Korsah
TOPIC: REMEMBER THE SABBATH
THEME SCRIPTURE: Exodus 20:8
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- What is the Sabbath?
- Why did God give the men of old the Sabbath?
- What does the Sabbath mean for us in the New Testament?
Interestingly, one of the controversial subjects among believers today is the subject of the Sabbath day. Some believe Saturday is special to God and we need to observe it as a Sabbath day. Others believe Christ has redeemed us, so there is no need to hold a day special but all days are special before God.
In the theme scripture, God commanded that we remember and keep the Sabbath day sanctified. The next verse of the theme scripture explains the mind of God regarding the Sabbath. It says that God worked six days and rested on the seventh day so also we should rest on the seventh day (Exodus 20:9-11).
A critical look at these scriptures reveals that the central theme of the Sabbath is “rest”. Thus, the people of God should make time to rest because God saw the wisdom in desisting from work to rest on the seventh day.
However, Apostle Paul, talking about the liberty we have received in Christ mentioned emphatically that we should not let any man pass judgement on us because of what we eat or drink, or insist that we keep the feasts, observe new moon celebrations or the Sabbath (Colossians 2:16).
The reason Paul gave was that all these were a shadow of things to come but the body is Christ (Colossians 2:17). Every shadow has a corresponding figure (body) which is real. That body of the Sabbath, feasts, etc. is our Lord Jesus Christ.
Further, the writer of the book of Hebrews, talking about the Sabbath in the light of grace, emphasized that even though men of old kept the Sabbath, they did not experience “God’s true rest” because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:19). However, we have entered the true rest of God because we have believed on Him whom the Father has sent (Hebrews 4:3). Those who enter “His true rest” cease from their toil (struggles, difficulties and challenges) just as God celebrates His finished works (from the foundations of the world) and rests (never anxious but has confidence) in them (Hebrews 4:10).
Precious One, the most important thing to focus on when it comes to the Sabbath is this – the Sabbath was a shadow of what was to come. There is a rest in Christ Jesus and we have entered into it by faith.
Today, many are struggling physically, spiritually, emotionally, etc. Man has everything and yet he is not fulfilled. Amassing everything in this world will not give you rest or cause you to cease from your toils. If you have Jesus, you have more than the world.
Precious One, in Christ, you are in God’s rest. Be conscious of this at all times. Christ is our Sabbath and let us rejoice in Him forever more because we have ceased from our toil (struggles, difficulties and limitations). From today going forward, know with all certainty that you can't struggle in any way; you have entered into God's rest. This is why everything is always working together for your good. Praise the Lord.
FURTHER READING – Hebrews 4:1-11; Colossians 2:16-21
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- The one who has entered into the rest of God has ceased from his own toil. What does this mean for you?
- What things are you struggling with in life today? Can you exchange it with God’s rest?
CONFESSION
Precious Jesus, You said on the cross – it is finished. From that moment my liberty and rest were purchased. I choose this day to live in the liberty which is in Christ Jesus. I surrender all my struggles and I place my confidence in the finished works of my Lord. Your grace is abounding more and more in my life, making me a reservoir of all forms of wisdom and solution to my world. Glory to God.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Genesis 25; Genesis 26; Psalm 31; Matthew 16
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