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The forgotten commandment – Is keeping the Sabbath important?
October 30th, 2010 |In the very heart of the law of God, there is a commandment that has been neglected by the majority of professed Christians in the world today. It is the largest of the Ten, yet it is mentioned by the Christian world the least. While it begins with the word “remember” it is seemingly forgotten. Even though it was spoken directly by God, in many Christian pulpits today this topic receives nothing but silence. Although it was written directly by God Himself, many pastors are trying to erase it.
Yet God still declares “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:1, 8-11)
In Exodus 20, God spoke the Sabbath commandment Himself, He wrote it on tablets of stone and again God declares in the New Testament “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”(Matthew 24:35 NIV) Based on the words of Jesus His commandments still stand. But could it be that we have forgotten the only commandment from Jesus that begins with the word “remember”?
Is keeping the Sabbath important, for modern New Testament Christians such as ourselves? If so what is required by the Lord in order to keep the Sabbath holy? Which day is the Lord’s day? And if we intentionally neglect God’s commandment, could it keep us out of heaven? Friends these are vitally important questions, yet the Bible has clear life giving answers! Let us study the Bible today to find the answers to these questions, but before we do so let us ask for the Lord’s help in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Today we have valid and important questions, but Lord we are so thankful that you have valid and clear answers. Guide us today Lord in the way we should go. Help us dear Lord, send your Holy Spirit to teach us your ways, and then empower us to follow your path wherever you lead us. Open our eyes dear Lord so that we may see wonderful things from your word today. Help us to follow you. May we have open hearts and open minds as we discover the answers to our important questions as we read directly fro your inspired word today. We thank you Lord for blessing us so much and hearing and answering our prayers. We pray all these things in the precious name of your son Jesus, amen.
