I'd like to continue my thoughts on Sabbath keeping in light of LOVE.
In my other post I pretty much covered with a number of scriptures Why it is the LOVE is the only true motive we should have for Sabbath Keeping. And it is this Love that God has had for us and instills in the BORN AGAIN new heart, that allows us to grow in grace and be made Holy by the power of God that the Sabbath is to be a sign of (Ezekiel20:12).
Now I want to zero in and look at how we keep that Sabbath if LOVE is our motive.
In the original topic this question was asked...
quote:
Originally posted by Vince:
In light of all this how seriously should we take keeping the Sabbath?
Is it ok to watch TV on the Sabbath? What about going out to Sabbath Dinner with a friend at a restaurant? Or Running to the store for something we run out of? Should we use the Sabbath day as a day of travel? What about working of the Sabbath and causing other to work on the Sabbath by the deeds we do? And even more important then what we should not do on Sabbath, What should we being doing? Is it a day where we sit at home looking at the clock for the minutes to pass way till sunset? How do we make it a special and meaningful day? How should we make the Sabbath a JOY for all in our families and in our homes?
Lets look at what it means to have love. Because only when we see what it means to have love can we understand how LOVE will empower us to act.
1 Corinthians 13
13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Let us take a minute to compare perhaps one of the greatest chapters in the new testament to the Sabbath issue.
1 Corinthians 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
The point this scripture is making is that no matter how good you think you are if your not doing it in LOVE it is empty, week, and in vein.
My point is look at this verse in light of the Sabbath. Lets think this out brethren. Perhaps it could be said something like this...
Though I teach the lesson quarterly, but have not love, I have only read and spoke words. And though, I am the first person in the parking lot in the morning, and brought the biggest most healthily dish to the potluck, and understand the sermon with ease, but not do it in Love I am nothing. And though I bestow all kinds of moneys into the offering plate, and make lots of sacrifices from my busy life to keep the Sabbath day but do it not in love, IT PROFITS ME NOTHING!
Do you see my point my friends? God is NOT interested in our sacrifice if they are not done BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM. How many times over and over and over did He tell the Israelites in the old testament He desired not there Sacrifices without LOVE. Why do we make the same mistakes?
Hosea 6
6For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Malachi 1
6 "A son honors his father,
And a servant his master.
If then I am the Father,
Where is My honor?
And if I am a Master,
Where is My reverence?
Says the LORD of hosts
To you priests who despise My name.
Yet you say, "In what way have we despised Your name?'
7"You offer defiled food on My altar,
But say,
"In what way have we defiled You?'
By saying,
"The table of the LORD is contemptible.'
8And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice,
Is it not evil?
And when you offer the lame and sick,
Is it not evil?
Offer it then to your governor!
Would he be pleased with you?
Would he accept you favorably?"
Says the LORD of hosts.
9"But now entreat God's favor,
That He may be gracious to us.
While this is being done by your hands,
Will He accept you favorably?"
Says the LORD of hosts.
10"Who is there even among you who would shut the doors,
So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain?
I have no pleasure in you,"
Says the LORD of hosts,
"Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
11For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great among the Gentiles;
In every place incense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
For My name shall be great among the nations,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
12"But you profane it,
In that you say,
"The table of the LORD is defiled;
And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.'
How does your love hold up to this? It is something to consider. It is something I try to keep my eye on, and my prayers tuned to. This is the measure of true love in the Bible. And I have to admit it is a tall measure. PRAISE THE LORD we are not saved by our Performance! BUT RATHER BY WHAT WAS CHRIST'S PERFORMANCE! Christ is OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Still this passage exits as a mirror to us to let us know just were are relationship is in terms of love to our Savior. The more we find it lacking, the quicker we should run back to the ever loving and empowering arms of our savior! IT is HE who changes us and makes us more Holy, more like His Character and self, which is you haven't guessed folk is yes LOVE. See the circle?
Lets us look at this passage in light of the Sabbath issue we are discussing.
"Long suffering..."
Is our Love for God long suffering (like it says in the verse) on the Sabbath day? Or are we waiting for the minutes to pass until sunset? Do you long to spend every minute with your savior in Worship, study, prayer or fellowship? Or are you running about to the store for things you forgot before Sabbath, Going out to a restaurant, trying to find something that is kinda Sabbath like on TV.
"Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up....."
Are you proud and think yourself better then others because your a Sabbath keeper? Is there a hint of self righteousness in your heart as you drive through town and see all the non-Sabbath keepers going about there business.
"Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth...."
Do you rejoice on the Sabbath? Is your heart full of love and praise. Do you sing out with all your heart in your pew, even if your voice is less then perfect. Is praise of what God have done for you all week on the tip of your lips to everyone you meet? Are you excited to get to church early to discuss the Sabbath School lesson, and hear a wonderful sermon? Do you look forward to rejoicing and fellowshipping with the brethren during the Pot luck? Are you excited to see what the Vespers or AY program will be like in the evening? Or are you full of complaints and criticisms about how so and so read the scripture, called for the offering, was dressed or gave special music.
"bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...."
When your deeply honest with yourself, does your love for God and the way you express it bear all things, is it full of belief and hope, does it endure all things, and do you never fail Him on the Sabbath? That is the measure of love in Corinthians. Not Just for the Sabbath but in ALL THINGS. If your like me, I want to tell you there is GOOD NEWS. GOD CAN CHANGES US! When we Look to Jesus and see how short we are from His Holy mark QUICKLY turn and run to Him who makes PEOPLE HOLY.
Ezekiel 20
12Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
It is JESUS WHO sanctifies us that is MAKES US HOLY. He Creates in us a NEW HEART. And step by step leads us closer and closer into a more full and filled Loving relationship with Him while the whole time keeping us COVERED by His Wonderful Robe of Righteousness.
Revelation 3
18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Revelation 3
5He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Revelation 6
11Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Revelation 7
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
Revelation 7
14And I said to him, "Sir, you know."
So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
I don't how your Sabbaths have been. Perhaps your doing fine, or perhaps God is calling you to love Him more and more as he discloses HIS love for you more and more. But I do know this much, you can't keep the Sabbath to become HOLY. That is a losing game. Don't bother fooling yourself. It is GOD who Changes you when you CHOOSE to BELIEVE He can and will. So rather the keeping the Sabbath to become Holy why not Keep it this week because you know in your heart God is in the midst of making you Holy because of HIS love for you. And when He loves you and you Believe in that Love He creates in you a new heart. A heart that loves the law, Which is the express character of GOD who is LOVE.
May God Bless and keep you!
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~VINCE~ IN ~CHRIST~
SDA-TODAY moderator
This restless world is just illusion
All at once, there’s a message from above
This senseless world of mass confusion ....
In the name of love
There’s a message from above ... (Sammy Hagar 2000)