A Test of Our Loyalty to God
The Sabbath is a memorial of creation, as we see in both Genesis and the fourth commandment. By sanctifying the seventh day, God gave us a weekly reminder of His creative work, His love for humanity and His desire for our well-being.
Genesis 2:1-3 tells of the Sabbath’s role as the cumiliation of creation: “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.”
The Sabbath isn’t a human invention. It’s a divine institution. God set it apart from the other days of the week when He blessed and sanctified it.
In Exodus 20:8-10 we read: “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.” This commandment is a test of our faith in God’s Word and our willingness to obey.
When God provided manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 16), He gave specific instructions about collecting it. They were told to gather only enough for each day, except for on Friday, when they were to gather twice as much to last through the Sabbath. But some disobeyed, trying to save their daily allotment of manna for the next day, which then spoiled. Others, having not gathered extra manna on Friday, went out to gather on the Sabbath and found none. God asked Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my instructions?” (Exodus 16:28). God wanted the Israelites to trust in His provision and care, even when it seemed inconvenient.
God expects the same for us. The Sabbath is a sign of our devotion to God. When we keep this day holy, we show our commitment to God’s law, showing that He is Lord of our lives.
Our observance of the Sabbath is a reflection of the quality of our relationship with God. It’s a day set aside for deepening our communion with Him. It’s a day to stop working and engage in activities that refresh our relationship with God, while also refreshing our body and mind. When we fail to observe the Sabbath, this reveals the low priority we’ve given to our connection with God.
God meant for the Sabbath to be a day of joy and celebration. It’s a time to appreciate creation’s beauty and give thanks for God’s blessings. This joyful observance of this Sabbath give us a glimpse of the eternal rest and communion believers will have with God in heaven and on the new earth.
In a world driven by constant activity, Sabbath observance becomes a bold declaration of our faith. When we keep the Sabbath, we demonstrate our willingness to rest in God’s promises. Our Sabbath observance shows our lasting loyalty to God’s commandments.
But it’s more than just a test. Keeping the Sabbath also enriches our spiritual journey, fostering a deeper, more intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Hold on to the sacred Sabbath blessings God has for you. As you find refreshment and strength on this sacred day, you are also and standing as faithful witnesses of the enduring truth of God’s word.
