SUNDAY THOUGHT-22

SUNDAY THOUGHT -22 A Call to Honor the Lord's Day Text: Exodus 20:8-11   The great American philosopher, Homer Simpson, said on one of his television shows: "I'm not a bad guy! I work hard, and I love my kids. So why should I spend half my Sunday hearing about how I'm going to hell?" He was actually asking these questions: Did God really mean it when He told us to set aside one day in seven for rest and worship? Did He really mean it when He told us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together? Is there still any value to observing the Lord's Day?     From the very beginning, the Bible indicates that one day out of seven be set aside as a day of rest and reflection. In the Old Testament, judgment often fell on ancient Israel when the Sabbath was disregarded. In the New Testament, the Lord's Day became a weekly reminder of Christ's resurrection. For many people, Sundays are for banking, shopping, sports, errands, church activities, school activities, drinking, and weekend pursuits. Even among Christians, work and athletics can interrupt our worship week after week until the basic habits of the Christian life fade from view. Does your view of the Sabbath center around the Lord who commanded to keep it holy, or do we treat this day as any other? Our text today is a powerful reminder of the importance of this sacred day.   1. The Admonition in the Text. We're to remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. The Sabbath Day is set apart to solemnly worship God. It has its own purpose and must not be alienated for our or other uses. The command "remember" shows our tendency to forget Sabbath holiness. We are thus reminded to sanctify the day.    Leslie Flynn told of seven unmarried brothers who lived together in a large house. Six went out to work each day but one stayed home. He had the place all lit up when the other six arrived home from work. He also had the house warm, and most importantly, he had a delicious, full-course dinner ready for his hungry brothers. One day the six brothers decided that the one who had been staying home should go to work. "It's not fair," they said, "for the one to stay home while the others slaved at a job." So they made the seventh brother find work too. But when they all came home the first night, there was no light, nor was there any warmth; and worst of all, there was no hearty dinner awaiting them. And the next night the same thing: darkness, cold, hunger. They soon went back to their former arrangement. "(It's) the day of rest and worship that keeps the other six bright, warm, and nourishing. When we desecrate the Lord's Day, we only hurt ourselves."   2. The Analysis of the Text. There are six days in which we are to labor, though this is often ignored. In Old Testament times, the Sabbath was the last day of the week, or Saturday. The shift occurred as a result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week. The early church began to celebrate the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship on the first day of the week. As Christians, how great a privilege it is for us that Sunday is a weekend day, the first day of the week in which we can both rest and commemorate! The seventh day commemorates God's creative work (Gen.2:1­3); the Sabbath day commemorates God's redemptive work in delivering the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage (Ex. 31:13, 16, 17; Deut. 5:15); and Sunday (the first day) commemorates the resurrection of Christ our risen Redeemer (1 Cor. 16:1­2; Rev. 1:10). The duties of that day include:     A. Rest     B. Reflection     C. Relaxation     D. Reverence     E. Renewal     F. Restoration   3. The Application of the Text. One day out of seven belongs exclusively to God. Sunday is God's gift to the church. Sunday has been turned into a day for self or sports, which shows great disregard for our Sovereign God and His Word. Many people have rejected the infallible authority of Scripture on this issue, but God's people apply His Day to their lives for their own benefit (Hebrews 4:9;10:25).   Conclusion: Monday morning you wake up and hurriedly get ready for work. In what seems like a sprint, you run through your week: children, bosses, wives, husbands, grocery shopping, overtime, bills, errands, and so much more consume our time. As Friday approaches, the anticipation for a couple days off gets you through that last day. Saturday you take the kids to the park, wash the car, clean out the garage, and catch an evening movie or play a board game. Will you give the Lord what He asks? How important it should be to teach your children and to discipline yourself to rest from life's distractions by focusing on the One who granted us life and salvation. Yours in The gloriuos ministry of God Joji George Abraham